Sarah Bennett
Welcome to tonight’s debate on a question central to the future of Ukrainian democracy: should the nation hold presidential elections while fighting a full-scale invasion? This decision balances the fundamental right to vote against the existential demands of national survival. Joining us are Mykhailo Fedorov, former Defense Minister and election proponent; Dr. Olena Kravets, a leading constitutional scholar; Julian Thorne, international security analyst; and Dr. Viktoria Lysenko, sociologist and public opinion researcher. We will navigate this through six pillars: legal restrictions under martial law, logistical hurdles for displaced citizens, risks of Russian exploitation, the tension between legitimacy and unity, the role of Western funding, and the physical safety of polling stations. We begin with the legal framework. Mykhailo Fedorov, the Ukrainian constitution and current martial law appear to explicitly forbid elections during wartime. Why do you believe this legal barrier should be challenged now?