Two weeks before the expiration of the presidential decree on martial law, two bills were registered this Tuesday, April 16 at the rada to extend it from May 9 to August 6.
Ukraine does not seem to expect an upcoming cessation of hostilities, despite the optimistic words of the American emissary Steve Witkoff who met Vladimir Putin on Friday in Moscow. Worn by Volodymyr Zelensky, two bills were recorded this Wednesday, April 16 at the Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, providing “Extension” on the one hand “The duration of martial law” and on the other hand of “The duration of the general mobilization” which have been in force since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
These two projects, numbered 13172 and 13173, intervene a little less than two weeks before the expiration of the current presidential decree which regulates the state of war. These two provisions, already extended 14 times (the last time in February), will be effective from May 9 to August 6, 2025, once validated by parliamentarians. This new 90 -day extension is not surprising in itself. Despite the premises of diplomatic discussions, fighting is more than ever rage in Ukraine, kyiv even believing that Moscow has launched in recent days «His spring offensive ».
New elections?
The rhythm of Russian assaults has increased, with growing territorial gains, which have on the contrary slowed down in the past three months, throughout the front line of more than a thousand kilometers. The Ukrainians fear the creation of fifteen new Russian divisions which could be engaged in the field of operations at the end of 2025.
But the maintenance of martial law legally prevents elections in Ukraine, in particular legislative and presidential, which US President Donald Trump, who has once again had very harsh words against Volodyr Zelensky, of his wishes. “Listen, when you start a war, you should know that you can win. You do not start a war against someone 20 times bigger than you and then hope that people give you missiles ”launched the tenant of the White House on Monday evening from the oval office, rejecting Derechef the responsibility of the war on the shoulders of the Ukrainian president.
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But what is done by law can be defeated by it: even if the martial law is extended until August, it can be lifted before this date by a new legislative provision if a cease-fire or a peace agreement were obtained between Washington, Moscow and kyiv.
