Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video speech on Monday (November 6th) that discussing elections in Ukraine during wartime is "fundamentally irresponsible". He called for unity to avoid unnecessary political discussions.
We need to acknowledge that this is a time of self-defense, this is a time of battle, and the fate of the country and people depends on it, "he said. I believe the election is inappropriate at this moment
Zelensky said it is crucial to focus on the military challenges faced by Ukraine. More than 20 months ago, Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, and Ukraine is currently attempting to drive out nearly one-fifth of the territory occupied by the Russian army.
According to the currently effective military control law in Ukraine, elections are prohibited, but Zelensky has been considering whether to use special provisions to hold elections, including changing the law and relying on foreign aid to pay for the election process.
He has stated that if he votes, he will run for re-election for a second term.
Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba said over the weekend that Zelensky is considering the pros and cons of wartime elections.
There are some people outside Ukraine calling for elections, including US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. He said that timely elections are an example of democratic mechanism reform in Ukraine.
Ukraine hopes to start negotiations on joining the European Union soon
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna told Reuters on Monday that Ukraine hopes to receive a "positive" assessment from the European Union (EU) of its progress towards eventual accession to the EU.
She said that Kiev has implemented all the necessary reforms. The report expected to be released on Wednesday will signal that negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union will begin in December.
What I want to say is that the evaluation will definitely be positive because we have been in long-term contact with the European Commission, discussing steps and negotiating the steps we are trying to implement, "Stefanicina said.
The negotiation of EU membership takes several years, as candidate countries must meet a wide range of legal and economic standards before joining the EU. The EU, which currently has 27 member states, is also unwilling to accept a country in a state of war.
Polish truck drivers block transit ports to protest against Ukrainian transport companies
In the EU member state of Poland, Polish truck drivers blocked roads leading to three border ports in Ukraine on Monday, protesting against what they believe is the government's inaction on Poland's business being taken away by foreign competitors since Russia launched the Ukrainian war.
Local authorities have stated that since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Polish truck drivers do not like the arrangement for Ukrainian transport companies to cross the Polish border without applying for a permit.
The requirements of truck drivers include re restricting the number of Ukrainian registered trucks entering Poland, as well as prohibiting transportation companies that obtain capital from outside the European Union, and so on.
Blocking the road leading to the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine... is a painful stab in the back of Ukraine, which is being invaded by Russia, "Ukrainian Ambassador to Warsaw Vasyl Zvarych wrote on social media platform X.
Assistant Commander in Chief died in a bombing on his birthday
The Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zaluzhnyi, said on Monday that one of his major assistants died in an explosion while opening a birthday gift with an explosive device inside.
General Zaluzhne wrote on Telegram, an information application software, "My assistant and close friend Major Hennady Chastyakov were killed in a family atmosphere on his birthday in a tragic situation
The news website The Ukrainska Pravda stated that a security source was informed by Chiskakov that the gift was a bottle of wine in the shape of a grenade he had brought home. He exploded when he opened it.
His 13-year-old son was severely injured by the explosion.
Investigating the incident of being attacked due to organizing a military decoration ceremony
Ukraine launched a criminal investigation on Monday into officers who organized a military decoration ceremony for a unit attacked by a Russian missile. The attack resulted in the death of 19 soldiers and was one of the deadliest attacks reported by the Ukrainian military.
The State Bureau of Investigation stated that its goal is to hold military officials accountable for the "Rocket and Artillery Day" event held near the Zaporoge front line on Friday. In the frontline area, Russian reconnaissance drones can easily detect crowds gathering.
The tragedy sparked a wave of criticism among Ukrainians, who questioned on social media why such gatherings were held so close to the battlefield.
According to the Associated Press (AP), Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed condolences over the death of soldiers from the 128th Independent Mountain Assault Brigade in Zakarpatia, calling it an "avoidable tragedy".
On Sunday evening, in Odessa city, a Russian drone and missile attack injured eight people and damaged an art museum listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Odessa National Museum of Art stated that seven exhibitions, most of which feature works by contemporary Ukrainian artists, were damaged during the attack. The attack left a large crater outside the museum, which was celebrating its 124th anniversary.
According to the latest intelligence report from the UK Department of Defense, Russia's war against Ukraine is the driving force behind Russia's sustained high inflation and decline in social services.
The UK Ministry of Defense stated on Monday that Russia's inflation rate rose to 6% in September due to rising costs of basic consumer goods such as food and fuel.
The Ministry stated that high inflation rates may also affect the borrowing costs of Russian consumers and "affect the debt repayment costs of the Russian government".
At the same time, Ukrainian President Zelensky has demanded that the United States provide more funds to resist Russian aggression, stating that if Washington does not increase support, American soldiers may eventually be embroiled in a larger European conflict with Russia.
Zelensky invited Trump to Ukraine to see the truth of the war
If Russia kills us all, they will attack NATO countries, and you have to send your son and daughter to participate in the battle, "Zelensky said in an interview on NBC's" Meet the Press "program
The Republican led US House of Representatives passed a supplementary spending bill last week to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel, but did not increase aid to Ukraine. This is in stark contrast to President Biden's request for $106 billion in funding, with most of the funds used to strengthen Ukraine's defense, while the remaining funds are used for law enforcement actions by Israel, the Indo Pacific region, and the United States along the US Mexico border.
Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader in the Senate, has stated that he will not put the House bill to a vote, while Biden has vowed to veto it.
In an interview broadcast on Sunday, Zelensky invited former US President and Republican Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to personally experience the consequences of the conflict initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump is seeking to win the presidential election again in 2024, with a clear lead among various candidates competing for the Republican presidential nomination. He has been harshly criticizing the United States' support for Kiev and stating that if he is re elected, he can end the war within 24 hours.
If he can come here, I need... 24 minutes to explain to President Trump that he cannot manage this war, "Zelensky said. He cannot bring peace because of Putin
(This article references reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France Presse.)