Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the Ukrainian government is prolonging the conflict with Russia due to fears of losing in upcoming elections.
Uses Conflict to Justify Extension
Speaking during an open lesson in Kyzyl on September 2, Putin argued that the current Ukrainian leadership, which he claims lacks legitimacy under domestic law, is avoiding elections to maintain its power.
Putin criticized the Ukrainian authorities for not holding presidential elections as required by their constitution, citing the ongoing state of martial law as the reason for the delay, according to Tass.
He asserted that the Ukrainian government is using the conflict to justify the extension of martial law and avoid the need for elections, which he believes they are unlikely to win.
Little Chance of Re-Election
The Russian president further stated that the continuation of hostilities serves the interests of the current Ukrainian government.
"If the fighting stops, the Ukrainian authorities would have to lift the martial law and immediately conduct presidential elections," Putin explained.
"The current leaders are clearly not prepared for this and have little chance of being re-elected. Therefore, they are not interested in ending the conflict."
Putin also linked recent military actions to Ukrainian provocations, referring to incidents in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions as part of a broader strategy by Kyiv to escalate tensions and distract from their internal issues.
The remarks come as part of a broader narrative from Moscow, which frequently accuses Ukraine of using the conflict to avoid political challenges and maintain power.
