Ukraine’s Zelenskiy tells ABC he will organise elections if Russia agrees to 60-day ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that he would organise elections in Ukraine if Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a 60-day ceasefire, responding to critical comments from US President Donald Trump.
“Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organise elections,” Zelenskiy told ABC’s “This Week”.
Trump on Saturday criticised Zelenskiy for attacking Russian oil refineries, a day after the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian fuel that were intended to deprive Moscow of revenue to fund its war in Ukraine.
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
In response, Zelenskiy said the choice of Ukraine’s leader was up to Ukrainians, adding that Putin would also like to see a change in the country’s leadership.
Zelenskiy said it was easy to blame Ukraine for rising fuel prices when the war in the Middle East was driving up prices globally.
Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine was prepared to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow stopped its own strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Under the terms of the deal announced by Trump on Friday, Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel to the United States and global markets, equivalent to about 2.25 million barrels of fuel. The United States exports approximately 1.5 million barrels of diesel daily.
Trump is under pressure to reduce rising fuel prices ahead of the November midterm elections, which will determine whether his Republican Party retains control of the US Congress for the final two years of his presidency.
Several lawmakers, including Republicans, have criticised the diesel agreement, arguing that it rewards Putin.
Credit: Reuters
