Lithuania's incumbent president declares victory in runoff vote
Lithuania's incumbent President Gitanas Nauseda on May 26 declared a landslide victory in the presidential runoff vote, securing his second term in office.
Elections
PM Sunak announces UK general election
Sunak's opponent, Labour MP Keir Starmer, is widely expected to win the July 4 vote. Starmer has pledged to continue the UK's support for Ukraine if elected.
Opinion: Navigating the ‘Zelensky Legitimacy Question’
Volodymyr Zelensky’s five-year term as Ukraine’s president expired on May 20. For most Ukrainian citizens, including the country’s constitutionalists, the path forward is clear: Zelensky should continue as president until martial law in Ukraine ends and new elections can take place. But critics argue that Zelensky and
Zelensky on legitimacy dispute: My term is not over yet
If martial law had not been imposed, the next presidential election would have been held on March 31, 2024, and Zelensky’s term would have ended on May 20.
Lithuanian presidential election to go to runoff, incumbent president ahead
Lithuania's presidential election is set to go to a runoff later this month as no candidate gained a majority of the votes on May 12, in a race that has heavily focused on the country's role as a NATO neighbor of Russia.
Zelensky congratulates newly elected North Macedonian president
President Volodymyr Zelensky extended congratulations, in a post on X, to Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova for her win in North Macedonia's presidential election.
Right-wing opposition wins elections in North Macedonia
North Macedonia's conservative opposition party won a decisive victory in the country's dual parliamentary and presidential elections on May 8, according to preliminary results.
Zelensky’s term would have expired this month, but he’s staying. Russia wants to use it
President Volodymyr Zelensky's term in office is supposed to end on May 20, 2024 – but it won’t. As Russia’s war delayed the elections and Zelensky's term is looking indefinite, Ukraine’s President’s Office is preparing to weather the storm of critics questioning the president’s legitimacy. Officially,
Czechia, Estonia will not attend Putin's inauguration on May 7
Representatives of Czechia and Estonia will not be in attendance for Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming presidential inauguration, the foreign ministers of the respective countries confirmed on May 5.
Politico: Biden to shift public focus from Ukraine to economy during election campaign
"Now that the supplemental passed Congress, it is naturally less of a salient issue," Politico wrote, citing one senior administration official.
Poroshenko plans to run for president again after war ends
Former President Petro Poroshenko said on April 2 he plans to run for the presidential office again, but only once the war with Russia ends.
Media: At least 15 criminal cases opened on first day of Russian presidential election
At least 15 criminal cases on alleged "obstruction of the electoral comissions' work" had been opened during the first day of the Russian presidential election, Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on March 15, citing regional investigation committees.
Nikki Haley exits Republican presidential race, ceding nomination to Trump
Donald Trump’s main opponent in the Republican presidential race, Nikki Haley, announced on March 6 that she was suspending her campaign, leaving Trump the last Republican left in the race.
Supreme Court rules Trump cannot be removed from Colorado ballot
The state of Colorado cannot remove former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 4.
US State Department condemns 'sham parliamentary elections' in Belarus
Belarus opened polling stations for both the parliamentary and local elections on Feb. 25 amid condemnations from the Belarusian democratic opposition. The country is ruled by dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who uses rigged elections to solidify his regime rather than to provide a chance for actual democratic competition.
Poll: Majority of Ukrainians want Zelensky to remain president for duration of martial law
When asked if President Volodymyr Zelensky should run for another term (if elections are held), 53% of respondents said yes, a six percent decrease since December 2023.
Charles Michel: 'I don't think this counteroffensive has failed'
Ten years after Ukrainians took to the streets their dissatisfaction with what many saw as a nail into the coffin of the country's European future, the European Council president was in Kyiv promising that Ukraine would soon begin accession talks. "My goal is to do everything to make a positive
Opinion: For Ukraine, elections can wait
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made headlines when he confirmed his belief that general elections should be postponed until after Ukraine wins the war. Despite some calls from Western allies to field elections sooner rather than later, polling shows that a majority of Ukrainians agree with Zelensky’s assessment that the
Why Ukraine likely won't hold elections next year
When Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a fake vote to extend his mandate in March 2024, Ukraine will not be allowed to hold an election due to the martial law imposed amid Russia's aggression. This won't suddenly make Russia more democratic than Ukraine. If Russia had not invaded Ukraine, it
This Week in Ukraine Ep. 24 – Will Ukraine hold elections during war?
Episode #24 of our weekly video podcast “This Week in Ukraine” is dedicated to the challenges Ukraine would need to overcome to hold elections during war.
Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. For our third birthday this November, we're looking for 1,000 new members to fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring. We’re relying on you.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
(Updated: )
Most popular
Editors' Picks
Kremlin finds new enemies to target — Russians without kids
With Scholz's government in shambles, conservative rival touts more decisive Ukraine strategy
Ukraine reacts warily to Trump appointments as Russia’s war rages on
