Russia has launched a media campaign to delegitimize Ukraine’s political leadership. We believe its goal is the Kremlin snubbing peace negotiations and inducing U.S. partners to cease all military support for Ukraine under the pretext of the alleged illegitimacy of the authorities in Kyiv. The fact that the campaign was launched personally by Vladimir Putin testifies to Russia’s unwillingness to negotiate peace.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s legitimacy as President of Ukraine has “ended”, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on May 24 at a press conference following negotiations with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk. Meanwhile, the international community of democracies never recognized the outcome of presidential elections in Belarus. As for Putin’s legitimacy, it is also questionable, based on the fact that residents of the occupied territories of Ukraine took part in the elections. Their votes’ legitimacy, as well as whether they all cast their ballots voluntarily, is also put into question.The Kremlin is manipulating Ukraine’s legislation, including Constitutional norms determining the term of presidential office. According to Article 103, a President in Ukraine shall be elected for a term of five years. Based only on this norm, Volodymyr Zelensky’s five-year term of office expired on May 24, 2024. However, Article 108 of the Constitution says that a president shall fulfil their duties until a newly elected president takes office. Thus, Ukraine’s legislation makes the terms of presidential office dependent on the holding of the next elections, and is not based on the calendar term. Therefore, for a presidential term to expire, new elections have to be held in the first place. At the same time, Ukrainian legislation also prohibits holding elections under martial law, that is, from February 24, 2022. The norm give no rise to doubts about democratic standards, given that the UK did not hold elections 1935 through 1945 either, due to the war, although its territory was never occupied. Over 20% of Ukraine’s territory is now occupied by Russia, which rules out the possibility of holding fair and democratic elections. So the Kremlin’s claims of illegitimacy, totalitarianism, and usurpation of power by the Ukrainian leadership have no legal basis, being a mere psyop run to justify Russia’s refusal of peace talks and a ceasefire. According to our assessment, the emphasis on the illegitimacy of Ukraine’s authorities reflects Moscow’s own fears and concerns. The Russian authorities are wary of the world recognizing them as illegitimate due to election rigging and numerous crimes committed against peace and humanity.
