Trump Supports Call for Elections in Ukraine Amid Ongoing War

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for holding elections in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for democratic processes despite the ongoing conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine might need to conduct new elections, asserting that its current de facto leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, lacks popularity.

Trump shared his remarks just hours after U.S. and Russian negotiators convened in Riyadh to explore solutions for ending the conflict in Ukraine. This meeting marked the first of its kind since Trump’s predecessor, former President Joe Biden, halted most communications with Moscow back in 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Moscow no longer regards Zelensky as legitimate, citing the expiration of his five-year presidential term in May 2024 and the absence of new elections due to martial law.

During a conversation with reporters on Tuesday, Trump remarked that Zelensky is largely unpopular in his own country. “I hate to say it, but the leader of Ukraine has an approval rating as low as 4%,” Trump commented.

“When they’re seeking participation in negotiations, one might wonder – shouldn’t the people of Ukraine be saying, ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election,’” Trump remarked. “This isn’t about Russia; it’s my perspective and that of many other countries as well.”

Ukrainian authorities maintain that conducting new elections is unfeasible as long as the conflict with Russia continues.

During the initial months of the 2022 conflict, Zelensky’s approval rating soared to 90%. However, it has since declined to approximately 50% due to battlefield setbacks and ongoing economic issues. Last month, Ukrainian media referred to a Socis poll indicating that only 40% of Ukrainians have confidence in Zelensky. In contrast, nearly 72% expressed confidence in former top general Valery Zaluzhny, who is currently serving as an ambassador in London.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that Putin is willing to engage in negotiations with Zelensky, provided that the matter of the Ukrainian leader’s “disputed legitimacy” is addressed first.