President Volodymyr Zelensky 'ready' to hold Ukraine elections

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he would like to run for president again if elections are held before the conflict with Russia ends. His five-year term expired two years ago, prompting Moscow to question his legitimacy, while U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a new leader to replace him.  Zelensky has refused to hold new elections since his term expired in May 2024, citing martial law imposed after the conflict with Russia escalated in February 2022. During his 2019 election campaign, he had promised to serve only one presidential term.

Speaking on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday, Zelensky said that if elections were held during the war, he would run for another term. He said it was his responsibility to defend his country from the beginning of the war until its end. He again called for a ceasefire lasting at least 60 days to allow preparations for elections. According to Zelensky, Ukraine needs time to amend its laws and establish the necessary electoral framework. Moscow has rejected the proposal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kyiv could use a 60-day ceasefire as a pretext to regroup, replenish its military losses and resume fighting. However, he said Russia was prepared to suspend attacks on Election Day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has argued that Zelensky’s presidential powers should have been transferred to parliament after his term expired. He has also questioned whether Zelensky can sign legally binding peace agreements and described his refusal to hold elections as a strategic mistake. Zelensky’s political ambitions have also faced opposition at home. According to a September survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 53% of respondents believed he should serve only one presidential term, up from 46% in December 2025.

Trump has increased pressure on Zelensky, accusing him of prolonging the conflict while receiving billions of dollars in Western assistance. Earlier this month, Trump called for a new president, claiming that Zelensky had repeatedly rejected opportunities to end the fighting. Speaking to reporters, Trump said he wanted Ukraine to elect a new leader who could reach an agreement.

He also blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for contributing to a global diesel shortage and rising prices, which he said were affecting American farmers. Trump accused Zelensky of creating problems for the world, despite repeated calls for an end to the attacks. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said Zelensky did not want to end the war and might never have wanted to do so. He claimed that Ukraine could have secured a better deal with Russia two years ago. Trump further said that Ukraine was devastated and that its male population had been depleted by deaths, injuries and a decline in numbers.