Iran Press/ Europe: All elections including the presidential vote set to take place next spring are technically cancelled under martial law that has been in effect since the conflict began last year.
"We must decide that now is the time of defence, the time of battle, on which the fate of the state and people depends," Zelensky said in his daily address.
He said it was a time for the country to be united, not divided, adding: "I believe that now is not the (right) time for elections."
The frontline between the warring sides has remained mostly static for almost a year despite a much-touted Ukrainian counter-offensive, with Russian forces entrenched in southern and eastern Ukraine.
Officials from the United States and Europe (Kyiv's key allies) are reported to have suggested holding negotiations to end the grinding 20-month-old conflict
But Zelensky has fiercely denied that Ukraine's counter-offensive has hit a stalemate, or that Western countries were leaning on Kyiv to enter talks.
The United States and other supporters have publicly maintained they are ready to back Kyiv with military and financial aid for as long as it takes to defeat Russia.
Global attention has turned to the Middle East since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel -- and Zelensky has come under increasing pressure.
204
Read more:
«Z»elensky! A showman who set his country on fire
