Zelensky: "Putin is sick with power... No legitimacy in the election"

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, on the 17th (local time), fiercely criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, who succeeded in winning a fifth term in the Russian presidential election, saying he is "power-hungry and will do anything to remain in power for life." He also dismissed the legitimacy of the election itself.

Image provided by the Office of the President of Ukraine

According to the Ukrainian presidential office, President Zelensky said in a video message on the day, "Russia's dictator (Putin) is mimicking another election." He criticized, "He will commit any evil to extend his personal power," adding, "No one is safe from this." He also stated, "Everything Russia has done in the occupied territories of Ukraine is a crime," and insisted, "There must be just retribution for everything the Russian murderers have done in this war to guarantee Putin's eternal rule."

President Zelensky said, "The only thing he (Putin) fears is justice," and criticized, "This election mimicry has no legitimacy and cannot have any." He emphasized that such disgrace must be tried in The Hague and that President Putin should appear in the defendant's seat at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague as a war criminal.

Major Western countries are also voicing criticism of the Russian presidential election. The U.S. White House told major foreign media, "Considering the way opponents were imprisoned and others prevented from running, this election is clearly neither free nor fair." The UK Foreign Office said via X (formerly Twitter), "By illegally holding elections on Ukrainian territory, Russia has shown it has no interest in finding a path to peace," adding, "The UK will continue to provide humanitarian, economic, and military support to Ukraine in defending democracy." The German Foreign Office also criticized on X, "Russia's fake election is neither free nor fair," and "Putin's rule is dictatorial, relying on censorship, repression, and violence." It further emphasized, "The 'elections' in the occupied territories of Ukraine are invalid and another violation of international law."

President Putin, called the 'modern-day czar,' effectively secured a fifth term with overwhelming support in the Russian presidential election held from the 15th to this day. According to the Russian polling center VTsIOM, exit polls showed Putin's vote share at 87%. The Russian Central Election Commission also announced that with 40% of the votes counted, Putin's vote share was 87.634%. With this election victory, President Putin will extend his rule until 2030, effectively paving the way for lifelong rule.