Zelenskyy’s mandate deemed illegitimate, Russia says: “Whoever signs treaty must have a popular mandate”.

Who can legitimately sign a memorandum with Russia on behalf of Ukraine? According to Maxim Musikhin, Director of the Legal Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the legitimacy of the signatory is a critical issue—especially amid ongoing tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.

“The identity of the person signing such agreements is of paramount importance, as the current Ukrainian ‘leader’ has long lost both domestic and international legitimacy,” Musikhin told the TASS news agency, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose popular mandate expired on May 24, 2024. “This,” the Russian diplomat continued, “could undermine the validity of any agreement signed by him.”

Musikhin stressed the need for “solid guarantees” to ensure that any potential settlement is signed by someone “who has been genuinely mandated by the Ukrainian people to do so.” Without such legitimacy, he warned, serious issues could arise in the negotiation process. He also pointed to growing public dissatisfaction with Zelenskyy and his administration—something he claims is ignored by much of the European press.

According to the Russian official, new elections in Ukraine are essential: “The Ukrainian people must elect a new leader through a free and fair democratic process. Only then can a signatory be considered legitimate.”

From a constitutional standpoint, Musikhin noted that the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada—Ukraine’s Parliament—could theoretically hold the authority to sign such a document. However, it remains uncertain whether this option would be accepted within the country.

Photo source: https://www.president.gov.ua/