As his constitutionally mandated presidential term expires, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, a “champion for democracy”, faces smear campaigns by Russia’s enemies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was recently re-elected in a landslide, has repeatedly made clear that Moscow believes the Ukrainian leader lacks legitimacy.
Zelensky responded to and refuted the accusations for the first time at a news conference in France with President Macron.
Reuters reports:
President Zelensky said his legitimacy was recognized and decided by the Ukrainian people, while criticizing the legitimacy of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“‘President Zelensky’s legitimacy is recognized by the Ukrainian people. Our people are free.” He said at a press conference in Paris that only Comrade Putin recognizes Putin’s legitimacy.
As we have seen, leaders who cancel elections see themselves as more legitimate than leaders who hold elections and win in a landslide. that’s all.
Ukrainian presidential elections were scheduled to take place this spring, ending Zelensky’s five-year term at the end of May.
Zelensky now rules his country through martial law.
“However, martial law imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 prohibits any wartime elections. The constitution stipulates that the presidential term lasts until the newly elected president takes office.
Putin has repeatedly claimed that Zelensky was illegitimate after his five-year term ended in May.
Putin said the only authority in Ukraine currently recognized by Russia is parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.
But Western leaders – who are, after all, Ukraine’s backers and manipulators – did not question Zelensky’s legitimacy.
Zelensky’s response came just days after Putin began claiming presidential power should be transferred to Ukraine’s parliament speaker Stefanchuk.
Zelensky is now talking about himself in the third person, which is perhaps not a good sign. The Kyiv Independent reported he said: “Elected by the people of Ukraine he, I am very grateful for their support. Our people are free. This is what we strive for.
The most recent presidential election was originally scheduled for March 31, 2024, and Zelensky’s term ended on May 20.
Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk also refuted Putin’s claims about Zelensky’s legitimacy; “Vladimir Zelensky remains and will remain president of Ukraine until martial law ends. All this All are in compliance with the Constitution and laws of Ukraine.
read more:
Peter Sweden: It’s spreading – massive farmers’ protest in Germany (video)
