Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine will hold national elections if Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a 60-day total ceasefire. Speaking to ABC News’s “This Week,” Zelensky frames the move as a way to let Ukraine’s people determine leadership while ensuring conditions for voting.
Several outlets report the comments as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks about Ukraine’s leadership. The coverage links Zelensky’s position to Trump’s criticism of him, including references to Ukraine actions affecting Russian oil refineries after the U.S. temporarily lifted some sanctions on Russian fuel. In Zelensky’s account, elections would depend on an enforceable cessation of Russian bombardments so voters can participate safely.
Across the reports, the central points are consistent: Zelensky offers elections conditional on a defined, two-month ceasefire; the issue is discussed in the context of renewed U.S. involvement and public criticism; and the Ukrainian president emphasizes Ukraine’s decision-making about its leadership.
