Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s call for him to be replaced, saying Ukraine could hold elections if Russia agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.
Tensions between the two leaders flared again after Trump announced on Friday that he would temporarily waive sanctions on a large quantity of Russian diesel to help lower fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections in November.
On Saturday, Trump criticised Zelensky over Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries, arguing that the attacks had contributed to soaring diesel prices. He also called for Zelensky to be replaced by a leader willing to settle the war.
Speaking in a televised interview with ABC News on Sunday, Zelensky said the choice of Ukraine’s leader should be left to its people.
‘First of all, with all respect to President Trump, it’s up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader,’ he said.
Zelensky offers elections under ceasefire
Zelensky said he had told Trump’s team that Ukraine could organise elections if Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.
‘Please tell Putin give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections,’ he said.
Ukraine has not held a presidential election since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Trump’s decision to temporarily waive sanctions on Russian oil has drawn criticism from Ukraine, several US allies in Europe and some members of his own Republican Party.
Despite the latest dispute, Zelensky stressed the importance of continued US support and said he hoped tensions would not undermine unity among Ukraine’s allies.
Zelensky calls for continued US and European support
‘To stop Putin – and I think this is the main goal, to stop him, this is the main deal, to stop this war … we count on American support,’ Zelensky told ABC News.
‘Then, and of course, we count on our European partners, and I hope that we will save this unity, Europe and the United States,’ he added, describing the situation as ‘really not simple’.
Zelensky also reiterated that Ukraine was ready for a ceasefire, including one limited to energy infrastructure, if Russia agreed.
He said Russia’s heavy attacks during the week showed that Moscow did not ‘feel real pressure’ to end the war.
‘This week was very difficult for us, not only geopolitically. First of all, because of massive attacks, Russian attacks on our civilian infrastructure,’ he said.
Zelensky said Russia had attacked Ukraine’s energy sector 196 times, referring specifically to electricity infrastructure, as well as carrying out 20 attacks on gas and oil facilities.
He added that 153 civilians had been killed so far.
