Trump is pushing for the presidential election. “Be realistic, you are losing the war”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during Thursday's meeting of the coalition of the willing that his country needs security guarantees that include a European element of deterring Russia, supported by the United States.

“Nobody is interested in a third Russian invasion. Ukraine's defense support is especially important right now because Russia continues its attacks and protection of life must be greater for diplomacy to achieve a just peace.” – the president wrote in the Telegram messenger.

“We are ready to cooperate with President (US Donald) Trump in any form. And if President Trump talks about elections in Ukraine more often, I want to say it completely openly: we can try to hold elections,” said the Ukrainian head of state.

Zelensky stressed that holding elections in Ukraine during the war requires a ceasefire. “There must be a ceasefire – at least for the duration of the electoral process and voting. This is what needs to be discussed. Frankly, here in Ukraine, we believe that America should talk to the Russian side about this,” he said.

Wartime elections are prohibited by Ukrainian law, but Zelensky, whose term expired in 2024, is again under pressure from President Trump to hold elections.

On Wednesday, Trump said in an interview with Politico that the Ukrainian president “has to start accepting” peace proposals because he is losing the war, and added that Zelensky “has to be a realist.”

– I wonder how long it will be before they hold elections. It's democracy. (…) They haven't had elections for a long time. They are losing a lot of people, said the US president.

Zelensky announced on Tuesday that he is ready to hold elections in the country and if Ukraine receives security guarantees for this period, the vote could take place in 60-90 days.

From Kiev Iryna Hirnyk (PAP)

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