Trump pressures Ukraine to hold elections and speed up a peace agreement, while Zelensky requests security guarantees
Trump demanded that Zelensky hold elections while the Ukrainian leader continues to demand guarantees
porEditorial Team
Argentina
The President of the United States demanded that the Ukrainian leader ensure transparent elections in the face of a complicated military situation
President Donald Trump stated this week that Ukraine should hold elections despite the war with Russia, arguing that democracy can't be paused indefinitely.
In recent statements, the Republican leader insisted that "it's time" for the Ukrainian people to vote, noting that Kyiv has used the conflict to postpone the electoral process since 2022, when President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law after the Russian invasion.
The Ukrainian Constitution prevents elections from being held under martial law, which has extended the terms of Zelensky and Parliament beyond their original expiration dates in 2024. Trump, however, maintained that this can't be prolonged any further: "They talk about democracy, but there comes a point when it no longer is," he said.
El mandatario estadounidense aseguró que la guerra con Rusia no debe ser un impedimento para que se celebren elecciones
Zelensky replied on Tuesday that he has the "will and willingness" to call elections, although he emphasized that voter security is an insurmountable obstacle without international assistance.
"I need the United States," he declared, requesting support from Washington and Europe to ensure that the population can go to the polls without risk of missile attacks. According to the Ukrainian leader, with those guarantees an election "could be organized within the next 60 to 90 days."
The statements come at a key moment for peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The Trump administration is promoting a new 20-point framework to end the conflict, which has already caused nearly 1.4 million deaths on both sides, according to recent estimates.
Zelenski aseguró que tiene la voluntad de celebrar elecciones
The U.S. president has criticized that Zelensky has not yet fully reviewed the proposal, stating that his own advisers told him the Ukrainian leader had not read the document.
"It would be good for him to read it," Trump said on Monday, reiterating that the war needs an urgent solution. Zelensky denied the claim and assured that he is working daily with European and American teams to adjust the plan before officially submitting it to Washington.
Despite the exchange of statements, European officials agree that the talks have entered a decisive phase. Zelensky held meetings this week with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London to refine the points of the agreement.
El ucraniano mantuvo reuniones con los principales líderes europeos
The new draft would include territorial concessions, such as ceding part of Donetsk province, in exchange for strategic steps favorable to Kyiv, such as the possibility of joining the European Union and receiving Western security guarantees to prevent future Russian invasions.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, reiterated that Ukraine would not be eligible to join NATO, one of the most sensitive issues of the conflict.
Trump has maintained a firm stance of pressure on Kyiv. He asserted that Russia has the advantage on the battlefield due to its larger size and resources, and that this reality forces Ukraine to act more pragmatically if it wants to avoid further human losses. "In the end, size wins," he said as he explained why he believes negotiations must move forward quickly.
Trump aseguró que Rusia posee una ventaja por sobre Ucrania en el plano militar
In that vein, Trump's envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have asked Zelensky to accept the agreement before December 25. The White House avoided confirming the deadline, but emphasized that the president is determined to "stop the killing."
Zelensky insisted that the talks are ongoing and that this week security guarantees will be discussed with the so-called "Coalition of the Willing," made up of the United States and several European allies. "We believe that peace has no alternative," the Ukrainian leader declared.
For Trump, achieving a ceasefire and restoring the democratic process in Ukraine are essential steps to close the chapter of war.
Steve Wiktoff ha solicitado a Zelenski firmar el pacto presentado por el gobierno estadounidense antes de Navidad
