President Donald J. Trump said in a Monday interview that Ukraine ought to head to the polls even while fighting Russia, warning that Kyiv risks sliding into non‑democratic territory.
“I feel this is the right moment, the moment to hold elections,” Trump told Politico journalist Dasha Burns. “They’ve used the war to sidestep the vote, but the Ukrainian people should have that choice.”
Under Ukraine’s constitution, no elections can occur while martial law is in place—a status President Zelensky declared in February 2022 when Russia invaded. Normally, Zelensky’s term and the parliament’s mandate would expire in May and August 2024, respectively.
Trump added that, if a wartime election took place, it might even favor Zelensky (he said, “Maybe Zelensky would win”), but he was unsure. “They haven’t voted in a long time. They talk about democracy, but they’re heading toward a point where it’s no longer democratic.”
He also replied to claims from his son, Donald J. Trump Jr., that the commander‑in‑chief might consider aborting support for Ukraine, saying, “It’s not correct. But it’s not exactly wrong.” Trump went on to stress the importance of mutual cooperation: “They have to play ball. If they don’t keep agreements, it’s tough with Russia because Russia has the upper hand and always has. They’re bigger and stronger.”
He praised Ukrainian courage, adding, “I give them and their military tremendous credit for bravery and fighting. But ultimately size wins, generally.”
These remarks surfaced as Trump’s administration pushed another attempt to end Europe’s longest and bloodiest war since World II. On Sunday he told reporters that Zelensky had yet to review the latest peace framework crafted by U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators.
“My hope is that he reads it,” Trump said on Monday to Politico. “A lot of people are dying. It would be good if he’d read it. His people loved the proposal. They liked it. Their top advisers did, but he hasn’t read it yet. He should find time to read it.”
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