Zelensky said Ukraine was being blamed for rising fuel prices even though the war in the Middle East was driving up prices globally. (Photo: X/@ZelenskyyUa).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he would organise elections in Ukraine if Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a 60-day ceasefire, responding to criticism from US President Donald Trump over his leadership."Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections," Zelenskyy told the ABC.Trump had criticised Zelenskyy on Saturday for targeting 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.Responding to the remarks, Zelenskyy said the choice of Ukraine's leader rested with its people and noted that Putin would also like to see a change in the country's leadership.Zelenskyy also said Ukraine was being blamed for rising fuel prices even though the war in the Middle East was driving up prices globally.Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if Moscow halted its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Trump announced on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure, urging both sides to adhere to the arrangement."Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it! Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.However, Zelenskyy told news outlet Axios that he had not been aware of the energy ceasefire announcement made by Trump earlier on Sunday.
He added that Ukraine would accept such an arrangement if Russia agreed to it."The ceasefire announcement was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree. If President Trump negotiated it with Putin. Please tell us when the ceasefire begins, we are ready and we will accept it," Zelenskyy said, as per Axios.