Ukraine’s Zelensky Open to Elections with Security Assurance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his willingness to conduct the first elections since the Russian invasion in 2022, provided that allied nations can guarantee security. As his term is set to end in May 2024, he emphasized that two key issues—the security situation and legislative groundwork—must be resolved before elections can take place. According to reports, Zelensky has instructed his party’s lawmakers to draft a legislative proposal that would facilitate elections even while the country remains under martial law.

Despite calls for a vote, Zelensky has resisted, citing Ukrainian law that bars elections during martial law, a stance that aligns with widespread public opinion in Ukraine. Since the war began in February 2022, the nation has been under martial law.

“I’m also urging the United States, and possibly our European partners, to help secure the election process,” Zelensky mentioned in a WhatsApp exchange with reporters. “I believe we can be ready to hold them in about 60 to 90 days,” he added cautiously.

This shift in Zelensky’s position seems to have been influenced by critiques from President Donald Trump, who has suggested that Zelensky is using the war as an excuse to avoid elections. Trump has previously labeled him an “unelected dictator,” warning that Ukraine risks losing its democratic status.

In a recent interview, Trump indicated that Zelensky might not be up to date on ongoing peace negotiations, asserting that the Ukrainian leader had not reviewed the latest proposal from the White House. The Trump administration has been actively pursuing a peace agreement to resolve the ongoing conflict, introducing a 28-point plan that some Ukrainian and European leaders deemed overly accommodating to Russia. This led to discussions with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, resulting in a scaled-back version of the plan.

“We are actively exploring all options to conclude the war,” Zelensky shared on X, signaling that Ukrainian and European strategies are being refined for presentation to American partners. “We are dedicated to achieving genuine peace and will maintain regular communication with the United States,” he remarked, emphasizing a commitment to swift action.

Fox News Digital has reached out to both the White House and the State Department for comments on these developments.