Putin said he is willing to provide security guarantees for Ukraine's elections and called on Ukrainians in Russia to vote.

On December 19, Russian President Putin said during his annual "live Q&A" event:

"I want to say something that may sound surprising. We are willing to consider providing security for Ukraine's election. At least, attacks on the depth of Ukrainian territory should be suspended on the voting day."

Putin pointed out that between 5 million and 10 million eligible voters live in Russia. He believes that if Ukraine eventually holds elections, Russia has the right to demand that the election organizers provide opportunities for Ukrainians living within Russia to vote there.

The United States is pressuring Ukraine to hold elections. Trump publicly questioned the legitimacy of Ukraine's democracy and pushed Kyiv to start the electoral process. Putin's response at this time may be a move to take advantage of U.S. pressure, shift responsibility to Ukraine, and test Western reactions.

Zelenskyy previously expressed willingness to hold elections, but only if the U.S. and Europe provide security guarantees and achieve a ceasefire, especially emphasizing that missile and drone attacks must stop during the voting period. The Ukrainian position essentially uses the election as leverage to gain battlefield respite and external support.

Allowing citizens of both countries to vote involves sovereignty disputes. Ukraine would not accept Russia organizing the vote unilaterally. This move seems more like a political gesture aimed at promoting the narrative of "protecting overseas compatriots" and building momentum for its geopolitical claims.

Putin emphasized that the Ukrainian government needs to gain legitimacy through elections, but hinted that it would be a wrong choice if Kyiv used the election to "prevent Russian advances." This actually ties the election to a ceasefire, responding to Zelenskyy's previous statement about requiring Western security guarantees, while placing Ukraine in a moral dilemma of "refusing to vote means illegitimacy." Russia has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Zelenskyy's term before, and this move further weakens its international voice.

Overall, Putin's proposal is not a sincere compromise, but a composite tactic backed by military superiority: controlling the "legitimacy" narrative to isolate the Kyiv regime, expanding political influence through the voting rights of refugees, and inserting a wedge into future peace talks in the U.S.-Ukraine rift.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1851975068681292/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.