Ukraine's parliament, in a symbolic show of support, has approved a resolution reconfirming President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's legitimacy as the country's leader amid questions from the United States and Russia over his legal standing.
The resolution highlights tensions between Washington and Kyiv after U.S. President Donald Trump last week called Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections" for failing to hold a vote during wartime while also falsely accusing Kyiv of starting the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also widely claimed there can't be peace talks with Ukraine because Zelenskyy is not the country's legitimate leader because his term was originally supposed to end in May 2024.
SEE ALSO: Ukraine Live Briefing: Starmer Says European Allies Preparing Peace PlanHowever, under the constitution, Zelenskyy is bound to remain in office as the country is under martial law because of Russia's full-scale invasion, a point Ukrainian lawmakers underlined in approving the resolution at a meeting of parliament, called the Verkohona Rada, in Kyiv on February 25.
"Martial law in Ukraine, introduced in response to Russia's full-scale invasion, does not allow for elections by Ukraine's constitution. At the same time, the Ukrainian people are united in the opinion that such elections should be held after the war's end," the resolution says.
Martial law was imposed by Kyiv just a day after the Kremlin launched its all-out war in February 2022.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly noted that practical considerations, along with legal ones, make it impossible to hold elections.
They point to major security concerns saying packed polling stations would make tempting targets for a Russian military that has repeatedly struck civilian targets including schools, hospitals, and apartment buildings over the past three years.
In addition, millions of Ukrainians have fled the country because of the war and their participation must be accounted for, officials say.
SEE ALSO: As War Rages, Ukraine's Politicians Circle Presidential 'Electric Chair'Those concerns have been backed by dozens of civic groups, which last week issued issued a joint statement declaring the impossibility of holding elections under current circumstances.
"Only after the end of the war and the achievement of a stable peace…will it be possible to organize elections freely, fairly, democratically, and accessibly," they wrote.
Zelenskyy, who has not said whether he would run in a vote, has said elections could take place this year if martial law is lifted -- something that would be possible after a deal to stop the fighting.
Talk of a peace settlement has intensified in recent weeks, though how it will be achieved is unclear.
SEE ALSO: Analysis: Trump Rips Up Longstanding Rulebook Of U.S.-Russia RelationsTop U.S. and Russian officials held talks last week in Saudi Arabia on ending the war -- the first formal high-level talks between Washington and Moscow since before the February 2022 invasion.
Despite some assurances, and calls from European leaders, to make sure Ukrainian officials are involved in the negotiations, Ukraine was pointedly been left out of those talks.
French President Emmanuel Macron on February 24, speaking to Fox News after meeting with Trump earlier in the day, said a truce between Ukraine and Russia could be agreed "in the weeks to come."
"After speaking with President Trump, I fully believe there is a path forward," Macron said.