Macron shared his thoughts on February 20 while responding to questions from users on X, as reported by Glavpost.
The French leader made it clear that holding presidential or parliamentary elections under martial law is impossible. “The Ukrainian president was elected in free elections… Then he had to impose martial law because there is war in his country. Do you think he can organize elections in a country where millions have fled for their safety, and millions more are at the front?” – noted Macron.
He stressed that the democratic process requires a stable environment, and conducting elections during wartime would jeopardize their legitimacy.
Macron expressed doubts about the intentions of those calling for immediate elections. In his view, such a scenario could lead to the destabilization of Ukraine.
“What plan do some have? I know very well. A ceasefire that won’t be respected. Quick elections to manipulate them – that’s not a good idea,” – stated the French president.
He believes that free elections are only possible after achieving sustainable peace; otherwise, any attempts to organize them will be used for geopolitical purposes.
Macron is not the only European leader to express support for Zelensky's legitimacy. The spokesperson for the European Commission, Stefan de Keersmaecker, also noted that Ukraine remains a democratic state and that the president was elected in free elections. He added:
“Ukraine is a democracy, while Putin's Russia is not.”
Macron's open dialogue with social media users demonstrated that France and other Western countries continue to support Ukraine. During the broadcast, he visibly displayed a map of Ukraine, highlighting territories that were seized by Russia in 2014 and 2022.
Separately, we remind you about whether Ukraine will receive new aid from the USA: the response from spokesperson Johnson.