President Trump suggested on Tuesday that Ukraine should hold elections to possibly replace President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago following talks between his U.S. delegation and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, Trump pointed out that Ukraine hasn’t held elections due to martial law. He claimed that Zelensky, elected in 2019, has a “4% approval rating,” despite polls indicating support for the Ukrainian president is just above 50%.
Zelensky, in 2023, argued that holding elections during wartime could deepen political divisions, which would distract from the country’s defense efforts. Trump’s delegation held the first round of peace talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia without any Ukrainian representatives present.
Zelensky expressed surprise in a press conference in Turkey that Ukrainians weren’t invited to the talks, especially given the ongoing war with Russia. Trump, in response, suggested that Ukraine’s citizens should be consulted, pointing out the long gap since their last election and emphasizing that his call for elections was shared by many other countries, not just Russia.
While Trump acknowledged liking Zelensky “personally,” he stated that his main concern is ending the war, criticizing Zelensky’s leadership for allowing the war to continue. Trump also questioned the handling of U.S. funds sent to Ukraine, asking where the money is going and demanding more transparency. He further claimed that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war, despite Russia’s initial missile strikes on Ukraine.
