Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
It has been a very eventful weekend for US-Russia-Ukraine diplomacy.
On Saturday, outside the White House, President Donald Trump told reporters it was time for Kyiv to pick a new leader.
“I suggest they get a new leader who could make a deal,” he said, adding, “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during an interview with ABC that Ukraine will hold elections, if Russia agrees to not attack Ukraine for two months.
“Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organise elections,” Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized that voters and polling workers need full protection from incoming missiles.
Now the Kremlin has reacted to the request from Zelenskyy, and even though Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Russia is willing to halt fighting for Ukraine to hold elections, they will not agree to a 60-day ceasefire.
In fact, they will only agree to a ceasefire for one day — election day.
Ceasefire for politics or rearming
Speaking to reporters, Peskov stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would only order a pause on the actual day citizens go to the polls.
“The president has already spoken about this, but in this case, I can say with full responsibility on his behalf that if Kiev truly wants to hold elections, then the Russian president, as supreme commander-in-chief, will be ready to order the army not to strike Ukraine on election day,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian news agency TASS.
He added that the restriction applies “specifically on election day.”
Moscow insists a two-month truce would simply allow Ukrainian forces time to rearm and rebuild their military positions.
“We don’t need a ceasefire, but a lasting peace that will endure for generations,” Peskov said, arguing that Russia prefers a permanent diplomatic settlement instead of short pauses.
