• On Sunday, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to calls from US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to hold elections in the war-torn country in 2024, stating it would be possible if the West helped with providing observers and footing the bill. Ukrainska Pravda (a)
• Last week, Graham demanded elections be held in Ukraine under martial law, stating, "I want this country to have free and fair elections, even when it's under attack." Ukrainska Pravda (b)
• Under Ukrainian law, neither presidential nor parliamentary elections can be held while martial law is in effect — as is currently the case. The Hindu
• However, Zelenskyy said even if the parliamentarians allow changes to the law, elections could only be held if the US and Europe provide financial support. It costs 5B hryvnia ($135M) to have polls in peacetime, and Zelenskyy said he needed to figure out how much the country would need in wartime. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Zelenskyy added: "And most importantly, let's take risks together. But how? Observers must be in the trenches. I told him: You and I must send observers to the front line so that we have legitimate elections for ourselves and the whole world. And that's absolutely fair." Ukrainska Pravda (a)
• Graham openly supports arming and funding Kyiv. In 2022, he said that with US support, Ukraine "will fight to the last person" against Russia. RT (LR: 3 CP: 1)

Pro-Ukraine narrative:

• Criticism over the delay in elections is a ploy to undermine US support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy is open to holding elections during wartime, provided those demanding it must be willing to extend the necessary funding and risk lives.
  Ukrainska Pravda

Establishment-critical narrative:

• Under martial law, Zelenskyy has outlawed 11 opposition political parties as well as severely restricted the media landscape. Free and fair elections are impossible when Ukraine's democratic institutions are being eroded.
  The Week