Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Hold Elections If Russia Agrees to 60-Day Ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told US network ABC News that Ukraine can hold a presidential election after a full 60-day ceasefire. He was responding to US President Donald Trump, who had said Ukraine needs a new leader.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview on ABC News' "This Week" that Ukraine is ready to hold a presidential election if Russia agrees to a full 60-day ceasefire. The remarks respond to criticism from US President Donald Trump, who had earlier said Ukraine needs a new president. The interview was reported by the news outlet Dialog.ua.
A message for Putin
Zelensky used the interview to address Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Please tell Putin: give us two months, 60 days of a complete ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections," he said. He added that Ukraine would be ready for whatever choice its people, the Ukrainian people, make.
Who decides
Zelensky stressed that choosing the country's leader is up to the Ukrainian people and not to outside forces. With this position he answered Trump's remarks about the need to replace Ukraine's president.
In the interview Zelensky thus tied the holding of an election to a full halt in fighting lasting 60 days. The source does not say whether Russia has responded to the proposal.
