Zelensky is worried about the mood in his country, La Repubblica suspects:
“Behind these words there could also be a reassuring message to the nation, exhausted after months and months of war, the loss of civilians (9,500 according to the UN) and soldiers, the constant bombardment of cities, hospitals and schools, the destroyed infrastructure and the prospect of a gigantic and extremely costly nationwide reconstruction. … Against this uncertain backdrop there is also the problem of the parliamentary elections [slated for October], which Zelensky is willing to hold ‘assuming our parliamentarians are ready, because we need changes to the legislation and the electoral law’.”
