Kremlin has no intention of giving up its conditions to end the war – ISW

The Kremlin is systematically distorting Ukrainian legislation and constitutional provisions regarding elections during martial law to promote a narrative questioning the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additionally, Russian authorities show no intention of compromising on their demands for ending the war, which have remained unchanged since 2021.

Rubryka reports this, citing the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

American analysts note that Ukrainian law explicitly prohibits holding elections during martial law. President Zelensky has reiterated this, emphasizing that the Ukrainian Constitution and the Law "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law" forbid elections during an active conflict.

Zelensky has also stated that lifting martial law can only be considered when the "hot phase" of the war ends, and Ukraine achieves a "strong position" with a "strong army, robust weaponry packages, and security guarantees." The law specifies that martial law can only be lifted when threats to Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity are eliminated.

Despite this, the Kremlin uses the absence of elections during martial law to accuse Zelensky of illegitimacy, even though this decision aligns fully with Ukrainian law.

"Kremlin officials, including Putin, have repeatedly used deliberate misreadings of Ukraine's law and constitution to claim that Zelensky is an illegitimate president of Ukraine after Ukraine, adhering to the law and constitution, did not hold elections under martial law in 2024," ISW stated.

Furthermore, American experts highlight that the Kremlin's conditions for ending the war remain unchanged since 2021, effectively demanding Ukraine's total surrender. These demands include:

• The removal of the current Ukrainian government.
• The demilitarization of Ukraine, reducing its military to 50,000 troops, leaving the country vulnerable to future aggression.

These conditions, initially voiced during the 2022 Istanbul negotiations, are unacceptable to Ukraine.

Zelensky has also stressed that Ukraine cannot achieve a just peace with a small army of "40,000 or 50,000 soldiers." The country must maintain steady support through arms supplies and security guarantees.

ISW key takeaways as of January 3

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined the conditions that must be met to push Russia to agree to a "just peace."
• Ukrainian officials continue to signal that Ukraine is working to further increase its drone and missile capabilities in support of this goal.
• Zelensky reiterated on January 2 that the Ukrainian Constitution and Ukrainian law prohibit Ukraine from holding presidential and parliamentary elections during periods of martial law.
• Ukraine's Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported that several Russian ships will soon arrive at the Port of Tartus in Syria to evacuate Russian military assets to Libya.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vuhledar.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) continues to support its official "Glaz/Groza" reconnaissance and strike unit coordination software package despite Russian soldiers' continued reliance on other ad hoc communications systems.