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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would hold elections if Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a 60-day ceasefire, according to an interview with “ABC”.
Zelenskyy said elections during wartime would be difficult because of security concerns and constitutional restrictions. He was responding to US President Donald Trump’s call for Ukraine to “get a new president”.
“With all respect to President Trump, it’s up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader. Yes, we are in war and how to do elections is really difficult,” Zelenskyy said.
He said Putin wanted to change Ukraine’s leadership and added that he had discussed the issue with Trump’s team.
“So please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days off. Total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine would accept whatever choice its people made.
Trump on Saturday accused Zelenskyy of missing several opportunities to end the Russia-Ukraine war and said: “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
Trump also criticised Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, warning that attacks on refineries could worsen global fuel shortages and affect American farmers and ranchers.
Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards de-escalation, including a mutual ceasefire covering energy infrastructure. He urged Trump to signal to Moscow that attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities should stop.
“It’s fair deal. It’s not the best deal. The best deal not – not to have a war to stop Putin. But the first step is ceasefire, energy ceasefire,” he said.
