Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country could be ready to hold its first elections since the Russian invasion in 2022 as long as partners can give him security guarantees.
Zelenskyy, whose term ends in May 2024, said there are two key issues that need to be addressed before Ukraine can hold elections: security and the legislative framework. Zelenskyy said he has asked lawmakers from his party to work on legislative proposals to allow Ukraine to hold elections while the country remains under martial law, according to The Associated Press.
Because Ukrainian law prohibits elections when martial law is in effect, Zelenskyy has declined to call a vote, a position widely supported by Ukrainians, the AP said. The country has been under martial law since the war with Russia began in February 2022.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference in Lafayette Park outside the White House on October 17, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“Moreover, I now ask – and I say this openly – the United States, possibly together with our European colleagues, to help me guarantee security in holding elections,” Zelenskyy told reporters on WhatsApp, according to reports. “And then within the next 60 to 90 days, Ukraine will be ready to hold them.”
The change in Zelenskyy’s tone comes after President Donald Trump accused him of using the war as an excuse not to hold elections. The US president, who has in the past called Zelensky a “dictator without elections”, warned that Ukraine was on the verge of no longer being a democracy.
‘They haven’t had an election for a long time’ Trump told Politico. “You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”
President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 23, 2025. (Al Drago/Reuters)
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In his interview with Politico, Trump also accused Zelenskyy of being unaware of the peace talks. He said he heard the Ukrainian president had not read the White House’s latest proposal.
The Trump administration has been working on a peace deal to end the nearly four-year war. Late last month, the government presented a 28-point plan that Ukrainian and European leaders said was too deferential to Russia’s demands. Ukrainian officials met with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and watered down the plan.
The Trump administration has been working on a peace deal to end the nearly four-year war. (Getty Images)
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“We are working very actively on all components of possible steps toward ending the war,” Zelenskyy posted on X on Tuesday. “The Ukrainian and European components have now been further developed and we are ready to present them to our partners in the US. Together with the US side, we expect to quickly make the potential steps as feasible as possible.”
“We strive for real peace and remain in constant contact with the United States,” he added.
