Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky [AFP]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky [AFP]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday (local time) that Ukraine would hold elections if Russia agreed to a full 60-day truce.

Speaking to ABC News that day, Zelensky rebuffed US President Donald Trump's claim — made Sunday (local time) — that Ukraine needed a "new leader," saying it was "up to the Ukrainian people to decide when, how and who to vote for."

"I know that Putin wants to replace the Ukrainian president," Zelensky said, adding that if Trump wanted to bring about change through elections, he should demand that Putin guarantee "a full truce — two months, 60 days."

"If that happens, we will prepare for elections, and we are ready to accept any choice made by the Ukrainian people," he added.

Earlier, Trump reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (local time) to supply Russian diesel to US and global markets.

The deal was widely interpreted as Trump's attempt to halt Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries — attacks seen as driving up diesel prices ahead of US midterm elections — after Ukraine refused to stop the strikes.

Zelensky blasted the diesel deal as "a birthday gift to Putin," prompting Trump to fire back Saturday (local time), saying Zelensky "could have ended this war many times but chose not to" and that what he was offering Ukraine was "a new leader who can make a deal."


mokiya@heraldcorp.com