Zelenskyy threatens MPs with mobilization, but Rada calls it political statement

The Verkhovna Rada has faced an internal crisis due to the mass desire of MPs to resign. According to MP Oleksandr Yurchenko, about 50-60 parliamentarians have already written resignation letters, and the leadership of the Servant of the People faction admits that it is becoming increasingly difficult to gather votes for important decisions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a meeting with the media on March 14, issued an ultimatum: MPs must either do their work in parliament or prepare for service at the front. Ukrinform reports this.

The head of state emphasized that under martial law, work in the Verkhovna Rada is a form of protecting the state, but he does not rule out changing the mobilization rules for those who want to leave politics.

"From the first days of the full-scale russian invasion, there were MPs who wanted to resign. There may be different desires and different attitudes towards them, but we have martial law and we need to defend the state. And therefore, MPs will either have to serve in parliament in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, or I am ready to negotiate with representatives of parliament a law on changes to mobilization so that MPs can go to the front. If you do not serve the state in parliament, then serve the state at the front. This is my approach," he said.

The President also emphasized that holding elections to renew the composition of the Verkhovna Rada is currently impossible due to the war and legal difficulties. In addition, he criticized the opposition for its reluctance to support strategic European integration and financial laws, noting that true unity should be expressed in actions, not in demands to create new coalitions.

At the same time, the parliamentary committee on national security, defense and intelligence reacted with restraint to such initiatives. MP Fedir Venislavskyi on Radio NV called the President's words a purely political gesture and expressed doubts that there was a threat of mobilization.

"Any statements about any negative consequences for MPs if they stop working in the Verkhovna Rada, I think, are political statements. The main problem now is the lack of systemic dialogue between the key branches of power - the parliament, the government and the Office of the President. It is important to discuss the need to make certain decisions and explain the reasons for which they are made," Venislavskyi said.

According to Venislavskyi, the situation does not require new laws on the conscription of politicians, but the restoration of communication within the government, since formally the coalition exists, but MPs increasingly choose to vote according to their own beliefs, and not according to the instructions of the leadership.

We will remind that the deputy chairman of the faction Andrii Motovylovets stated that the crisis in the Verkhovna Rada is escalating: about 40 MPs of the faction wish to resign.