NEWS
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky Challenges Putin to Grant Ukraine 60-Day Ceasefire to Hold Elections
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a 60-day total ceasefire, saying Ukraine would be ready to organise elections if a two-month period of peace could be guaranteed.
Zelensky made the position clear while responding to calls for Ukraine to hold elections, insisting that a temporary halt to hostilities would provide the necessary conditions for the country to organise the electoral process.
“If Trump really wants to have elections in Ukraine, please tell Putin: Give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire — 60 days — and we will organize elections.
“Of course, we will be ready for any choice of our people,“ he said.
The Ukrainian leader’s remarks put the question of a ceasefire at the centre of the debate over holding elections while the country remains at war with Russia.
His proposal places the responsibility on Moscow to agree to a temporary suspension of military operations, which he says would allow Ukraine to move towards organising elections and give its citizens the opportunity to determine their political future through the ballot box.
Zelensky also reaffirmed his willingness to respect the outcome of the electoral process, stressing that Ukrainians would be free to make their choice.
The statement comes amid continuing international attention on Ukraine’s democratic process, the country’s wartime leadership and efforts to find a path towards peace.
By proposing a 60-day ceasefire as a condition for organising elections, Zelensky has presented a challenge that puts the focus on whether Russia would agree to suspend hostilities long enough for Ukraine to conduct the exercise.
Whether the proposal will receive a favourable response from Moscow remains to be seen.