Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, called for elections in Ukraine last night in a gathering of reporters, criticizing Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of the country, for not taking action to resolve ongoing disputes.
The Need for Elections in Ukraine
Trump, while reminding that Zelensky has had multiple opportunities to end the disputes, said: "In my opinion, Zelensky should hold elections. The time has come for him to do this and choose new leadership that can reach an agreement with Moscow." These statements from Trump come as American and Ukrainian representatives recently held negotiations in Miami, which ended prematurely.
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Criticism of Zelensky and His Policies
Trump also pointed out Zelensky's disregard for American requests, stating: "We had asked him not to attack Russian oil refineries, but he seems to intend to create problems for the United States and the world." He emphasized that the time for a change in leadership in Ukraine has come and this matter should be seriously considered.
Meanwhile, Zelensky quickly contacted Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after these remarks and emphasized the importance of his discussions with him. Zelensky also criticized Washington's decision to lift restrictions on Russian fuel and oil imports, deeming this action a clear sign of the United States' weakness.
Reactions to Trump's Statements
Kyril Dmitriev, the special representative of the President of Russia for economic cooperation, also reacted to Trump's statements, saying that the time for elections in Ukraine is "drawing near." He described these remarks as a sign of Ukraine's need for a peace-seeking government. Dmitriev also referenced the cover image of "Time" magazine, which introduced Zelensky as the "end of the game."
Grigory Karasin, Vice Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of Russia, also expressed the opinion that Trump's call for a change in leadership in Ukraine reflects the views of Ukrainian society and emphasized that this issue will become a topic of public discussion among the people of Ukraine.
Zelensky's presidential term continues until May 20, 2024. The presidential elections in Ukraine have been suspended due to wartime conditions. Zelensky had previously stated that holding elections under such circumstances is impossible.
Trump had also emphasized the necessity of holding elections in Ukraine in December 2025, calling Zelensky a "dictator without elections." At that time, he referred to Zelensky's significant decline in popularity among the people of Ukraine.
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