Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on December 9 his readiness for a new election. He added that he had asked lawmakers to prepare proposals "related to amending the legal framework and election law during martial law."
Zelensky's term concludes in May 2024. However, Ukraine has not held elections, as the law prohibits them during martial law, a state imposed after the conflict erupted in early 2022.
President Zelensky emphasized the need for security guarantees for elections to proceed, citing Ukraine's frequent targeting by Russian missiles and drones.
The Ukrainian leader stated, "I publicly call on the United States, potentially alongside European countries, to support security guarantees for holding elections."
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks in Kyiv on December 4. Photo: AFP
In an interview published earlier that day, US President Donald Trump accused Ukraine of "exploiting the conflict" to avoid holding elections.
"They speak of democracy, but at some point, it ceases to be a democracy," Trump said, adding that Russia is gaining an advantage in the war.
Trump had also previously accused his Ukrainian counterpart of not reading the latest peace proposal from Washington. On December 9, Zelensky stated that Ukraine anticipated sending the revised version to the United States today.
Trump is pressuring Kyiv to accept the peace plan drafted by Washington. Ukraine's allies criticized the proposal's original version for being too biased towards Russia, as it demanded Kyiv relinquish territories it still controlled in the Donbass region.
In recent days, President Zelensky has traveled extensively among European capitals, seeking a response to the United States' plan. On December 8, he held discussions with European leaders in London and Brussels. The following day, he visited Italy to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Leo XIV.
On December 8, the Ukrainian President revealed that the United States' 28-point peace plan had been reduced to 20 points following bilateral talks last weekend.
He disclosed that territorial issues and security guarantees represent the two primary sticking points in negotiation efforts. He added that Ukraine possesses no legal or moral right to cede territory to Russia in any peace agreement.
Pham Giang (AFP)
