Trump Suggests Ukraine Hold Elections As Part Of Peace Deal With Russia
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukraine should hold presidential elections, arguing that the lack of democratic processes in the country is a key issue in peace negotiations with Russia.
At a press conference in Mar-a-Lago, Trump brought attention to the fact that Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s invasion in 2022 and has not held elections as scheduled. He suggested that a vote could be necessary before Ukraine participates in peace talks.
“We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law, essentially martial law in Ukraine,” Trump said. He also claimed that President Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating had fallen to 4%, though polls show his support remains above 50%.
Trump’s remarks followed meetings between his delegation and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian officials were not part of those discussions, a decision that Zelensky later criticized. In response, Trump suggested that Ukraine should hold elections before seeking a role in negotiations.
Trump also criticized Ukraine’s handling of US aid, questioning how the money has been spent and whether European countries have contributed fairly. “Where is all the money that’s been given? Where is it going? I don’t see any accounting,” Trump said.
Zelensky has previously defended the decision not to hold elections, arguing in 2023 that a political campaign during wartime would create unnecessary divisions. Ukraine’s next presidential election was originally scheduled for April 2024.
