Zelensky says Ukraine will hold elections if Russia agrees to ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine will hold elections if Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a two-month ceasefire. The Washington Examiner, the Daily Mail, London Business News, and The Kyiv Independent all reported his comments. Speaking on ABC News, Zelensky stated that the next leader of Ukraine will be decided by its people, while acknowledging the difficulty of holding elections during the ongoing war. [1][2][8][9][10][11]

Zelensky's remarks followed comments from Donald Trump on Saturday urging Ukraine to get a new leader who can make a deal. The Daily Mail reported that Trump made the statement outside the White House, claiming Zelensky was unable to negotiate a settlement. According to Arab News and The Hindu, Trump also stated that Putin would like to see a settlement in the war. [1][2][3][4][5]

The dispute follows recent economic and military developments between the nations. The Daily Mail reported that Trump agreed to a deal to purchase diesel fuel from Russia and lift sanctions on Russian oil. Meanwhile, the New York Post reported that Russian forces launched five guided aerial bombs at a residential neighborhood in Zaporizhzhia early Saturday, killing 20 people and injuring 18 others. [3][6]

Zelensky has served as president of Ukraine since 2019, leading the country through the full-scale Russian invasion that began in February 2022. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Zelensky previously pushed back against calls for new leadership, insisting that holding national elections requires a complete ceasefire. [13][16]