Ukraine set to extend martial law and mobilization for another 90 days

The Ukrainian Parliament will vote next week to extend martial law and mobilization for another 90 days, with the current term set to expire on May 9, according to Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak.

"Martial law and mobilization will be extended. And they will be extended quite soon. This will happen between April 15 and 18... for 90 days," said the MP in a video posted on his YouTube channel, Caliber.Az reports, referencing foreign media.

He explained that the vote on this matter typically takes place in Parliament two weeks before the martial law and mobilization terms expire. Zheleznyak believes that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will submit the relevant bills to Parliament on April 14 or 15, after which the documents will be reviewed by the relevant committee before being put to a general vote.

The MP noted that this extension makes it impossible to hold parliamentary or presidential elections in August. According to him, 60 days are needed for a presidential campaign, and 90 days for a parliamentary election campaign. "Those who expected that elections would be announced in the fall... were a bit mistaken," said the MP.

He added that the extension of martial law and mobilization should serve as a signal to both domestic and foreign partners. "If Parliament decides to extend martial law for 90 days, the promises of a quick resolution of the conflict, including those from American partners... don't seem very realistic," Zheleznyak believes.

Earlier, Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk also stated that he expects another extension of martial law and general mobilization. The last time martial law and mobilization were extended in Ukraine was in early February. Amid ceasefire negotiations, there were speculations in the Ukrainian media that the extension of these regimes might not happen. In that case, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine would have had to schedule presidential and parliamentary elections, with various possible dates mentioned for the summer or fall.

Martial law and general mobilization were imposed in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and have been repeatedly extended since then. Laws to extend these regimes are submitted to Parliament by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, usually two to three weeks before their expiration date.