Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that US President Donald Trump had suggested Ukraine choose a new president because Volodymyr Zelensky was unwilling to make the decisions needed to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“Trump said that, in his opinion, it is time for a new president,” Peskov said.
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“Why? Because the president of Ukraine must make very responsible and very difficult decisions to stop this war.”
Peskov accused Zelensky of failing to demonstrate the political will to take those steps.
“Either Zelensky takes on that responsibility and demonstrates that political will, or he does not,” he said. “So far, he has not.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday pushed back against US counterpart Donald Trump’s call for him to be replaced, but said his country could hold elections if Russia agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.
Tensions have flared once again between the two leaders after Trump on Friday announced he would waive sanctions on a large quantity of Russian diesel to help lower fuel prices ahead of the November US midterm elections.
On Saturday, Trump lashed out at Zelensky over Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries, arguing they have contributed to soaring diesel prices, and called for him to be replaced by a leader that will settle the war.
“First of all, with all respect to President Trump, it’s up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader,” Zelensky told ABC News in a televised interview on Sunday.
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Zelensky said he told Trump’s team that if they really wanted Ukraine to hold elections – their first since Russia’s invasion began in 2022 – “please tell Putin give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections.”
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