Zelensky ties possible Ukrainian elections to a 60-day truce
In an ABC News interview, Zelensky said Ukraine could hold elections if a full ceasefire lasting two months were in place. He rejected outside pressure over leadership, saying Ukrainians should choose their president, and noted martial law bars elections. He also disputed Trump's blame on Ukraine for fuel prices, attributing increases to Middle East conflict and Hormuz disruptions.
In an Oct. 11 ABC News interview, Zelensky said a full two-month ceasefire would allow Ukraine to organize elections. He noted Ukrainian law prohibits voting under martial law, imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion. He said the choice of president belongs to Ukrainians, not outside figures.
Trump had called for a new Ukrainian leader and said it was time for a new president, after what the report described as a likely illegal diesel import arrangement with Moscow. Zelensky also rejected Trump's fuel-price blame, pointing to Middle East conflict and Hormuz disruptions. He said he hopes Europe, the U.S., and Ukraine continue cooperating against Putin.
The debate over elections during wartime may affect Ukrainian voters, soldiers, displaced people, and political institutions, as voting under martial law would require legal and security arrangements. A 60-day truce proposal could shape public expectations about leadership and peace talks, while also influencing how U.S. and European audiences view support for Kyiv. Any election decision could deepen uncertainty or, if conditions allow, restore a sense of democratic choice.