Zelenskyy to MPs: either work in Parliament or go to the front

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday said members of Parliament who wish to give up their mandates must either continue working in the legislature or serve on the front line.

The President made the statement while commenting on lawmakers who have expressed a desire to resign from the country’s Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.

Zelenskyy said since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, some deputies have wanted to relinquish their mandates. However, he stressed that during martial law the Ukrainian Parliament must continue functioning fully.

“There may be different desires and different attitudes toward them, but we are under martial law and we must defend our state. Therefore, members of Parliament will either have to serve in Parliament in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, or I am ready to negotiate with parliamentary representatives on amendments to the mobilisation law so that deputies can go to the front. If you do not serve the state in Parliament, then serve on the front line. That is my approach,” Zelenskyy said.

The President added that despite various personal reasons and assessments, the current situation requires a clear solution.

“We must gather our strength and make a decision. Until the end of the war we will either continue to work together — vote, adopt laws, amendments and personnel decisions — or we will change the law and allow the mobilisation of those deputies who are not ready to continue working in parliament,” Zelenskyy said.