Putin questions legality of Ukrainian government
The response came one day after Zelensky urged Ukraine's international backers to support attempts to topple the Russian government, warning that otherwise, Moscow would 'try to destabilize neighboring countries' even if a ceasefire were reached in the ongoing conflict.
'Our political regime is grounded in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and our government was formed in full compliance with the basic law,' Putin said during a press appearance on Friday. 'The same cannot be said about Ukraine.'
Zelensky was elected in 2019 but has remained in office beyond the expiration of his term last year, citing martial law provisions that suspend elections during wartime. Putin had previously noted that the Ukrainian Constitution mandates that presidential power should be transferred to the speaker of the parliament if a successor is not elected.
While the Kremlin has generally characterized Zelensky's status as an internal Ukrainian matter, it has raised concerns about the legitimacy of any international agreements he might sign, including a potential peace treaty with Russia. Officials have suggested that such agreements could later be challenged on legal grounds.
Recent polling has indicated that Zelensky would likely lose a competitive election, with retired General Valery Zaluzhny named by voters as the leading alternative.
Putin's remarks came during a joint appearance with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko following their visit to Valaam Monastery, a major Orthodox Christian site on an island in Russia's Lake Ladoga.
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