Zelenskiy Offers Elections for 60-Day Ceasefire as Trump Presses for New Ukrainian President
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Oct 11
Zelenskiy Offers Elections for 60-Day Ceasefire as Trump Presses for New Ukrainian President
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Oct 11
Summary
Zelenskiy said he would organize Ukrainian elections if Vladimir Putin agrees to a 60-day total ceasefire, framing the vote as possible only with a full pause in fighting.
ABC's interview came after Trump said it was time for Ukraine to get a new president and criticized Kyiv for striking Russian oil refineries after Washington temporarily eased sanctions on Russian fuel.
Zelenskiy pushed back that Ukrainians should choose their leader and said he was also ready to stop attacks on Russian refineries if Moscow halts strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
The dispute is tied to a Trump-backed fuel arrangement under which Russia would quickly supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel—about 2.25 million barrels—to U.S. and global markets.
Fuel prices have become a political pressure point for Trump before November's midterm elections, while the diesel deal has drawn criticism from lawmakers in both parties as rewarding Putin.