elenskyy retorted at the suggestion that he was holding on to power and said that security remains as his top concern.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has assured that the country is ready to hold elections in the next 60 to 90 days if its allies can guarantee security for the vote amid criticism from the US President Donald Trump, who has said earlier in an interview that the Ukrainian leadership is using war as an excuse “not to hold an election” and that it is time for Kyiv to go to polls, CNN reported.
During his whirlwind 36-hour trip across Europe this week, Zelenskyy clarified that amid uncertain negotiations to end the nearly four year war based on a 28-point peace plan sponsored by the United States, Ukraine, he said, cannot surrender land. “Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. According to the law, we don’t have such a right…and to be frank, we don’t have a moral right either.”
Following a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Leo, Zelenskyy told reporters from his plane, “I am ready for the elections.” The Ukrainian leader added, “Not only that, I am asking and I am now declaring this openly – the United States of America to help me, together with our European colleagues, to ensure security for the elections.”
Trump, while responding to a question on Ukraine holding an election during an interview with Politico, said “They talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”
However, Zelenskyy retorted at the suggestion that he was holding on to power and said that security remains as his top concern. “How can this be done under missile attacks on our military? The question is, how will they vote?”
Zelenskyy said that he has asked Ukrainian lawmakers to prepare legislative proposals as to how elections can be held during martial law. The Ukrainian leader further cautioned that the matter of holding an election is for the people of Ukraine and not for the people of other countries.
