Doomsday Clock for Ukraine Unity Ticks as Zelensky Offers Elections Under 60-Day Ceasefire
The doomsday clock for Ukraine unity ticks amid fresh tensions as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s call for him to be replaced. Zelensky stated that Ukrainians will choose their own leader while offering to hold elections if Russia agrees to a 60-day ceasefire. [1] [3]
Zelensky Rejects Trump's Call for New Ukrainian Leadership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday pushed back against US counterpart Donald Trump’s call for him to be replaced. [1] Zelensky told ABC News that with all respect to President Trump, it is up to Ukrainian society and the people to choose one or another leader. [1] [3] Trump on Saturday lashed out at Zelensky over Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries and called for him to be replaced by a leader who will settle the war. [1] [3]
Offer of Elections Tied to 60-Day Ceasefire
Zelensky said he told Trump’s team that if they really wanted Ukraine to hold elections, they should tell Putin to give two months or 60 days of total ceasefire so elections can be organized. [1] [3] Ukrainian law forbids elections during martial law, which was declared when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. [3] Zelensky added that of course Ukraine will be ready for any choice of its people. [3]
Trump Announces Energy Ceasefire
Trump announced in a post on Truth Social that effective immediately there is an energy ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine and both parties have agreed. [4] [5] Zelensky responded in an interview with Axios that the ceasefire announcement was news for him. [4] [5] Zelensky said if President Trump negotiated it with Vladimir Putin, please tell Ukraine when the ceasefire begins because Ukraine is ready and will accept it. [4] [5]
Dispute Over Russian Oil Sanctions and Fuel Prices
Trump announced he would waive sanctions on a large quantity of Russian diesel to help lower fuel prices ahead of the November US midterm elections. [1] Trump blamed Zelensky for strikes on Russian oil refineries that he said contributed to soaring diesel prices. [1] [3] Zelensky attacked the claim that Ukraine is to blame for rising fuel prices, stating that everybody in the world understands the prices are rising because of the war in the Middle East and because of the blocking of Hormuz. [3]
Zelensky Stresses Need for Unity and Pressure on Putin
Zelensky noted the necessity of continued US support and said he hoped the latest dispute would not hurt the unity among Ukraine’s allies. [1] He said to stop Putin is the main goal and the main deal to stop this war, and Ukraine counts on American support. [1] [3] Zelensky added that Ukraine counts on its European partners and hopes to save this unity between Europe and the United States even though it is really not simple. [1] He reiterated that Ukraine was ready for a ceasefire including just on energy infrastructure if Russia agreed. [1] [5] Russia’s heavy attacks this week showed it does not feel real pressure to end the war, Zelensky said. [1]
Context of Ongoing Tensions
This is not the first time Trump has announced a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia but a tangible agreement has remained out of reach so far. [4] Over the same period Russia has continued to attack civilian targets across Ukraine including Kyiv's energy infrastructure. [4] As yet no comments have been made by Russia on the energy ceasefire announcement. [5]
What to watch next: Ukraine remains ready to accept an energy ceasefire if Russia agrees and if President Trump provides details on when it begins.
