Ukraine Ready for Polls if Russia Halts Fighting for 60 Days: Zelensky
What Happened
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine could organise national elections if Vladimir Putin agrees to a full 60-day ceasefire. Speaking to ABC News, the Ukrainian president said a temporary halt in fighting would create the conditions needed to hold elections, which have been suspended under martial law since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The remarks came after Donald Trump criticised Zelenskyy's leadership and suggested Ukraine needed a new president. Zelenskyy responded that the choice of Ukraine's leader should be made by the Ukrainian people.
Key Takeaways
Zelenskyy's proposal links Ukraine's long-delayed elections directly to a temporary ceasefire, while also signalling that Kyiv could pause attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow stops targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure.