Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed he is ready to hold elections if Russia agrees to a complete ceasefire in Ukraine lasting 60 days, following Donald Trump's call for a change in Ukrainian leadership.
On Sunday, 11 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump by stating he is ready to hold elections in Ukraine if Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a 60-day ceasefire.
“Please tell Putin that we need two months—60 days of a complete ceasefire—and then we will hold elections,” Zelensky said on ABC's This Week program.
On Saturday, Trump criticized Zelensky over Ukraine’s attack on a Russian oil refinery, just one day after the U.S. temporarily lifted fuel sanctions on Russia, which had originally aimed to cut Moscow’s revenue to fund the war in Ukraine.
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to have a new president,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Saturday, accusing Zelensky of missing many opportunities to make a deal to end the war with Russia.
In response, Zelensky said, “It’s up to the Ukrainian people” to choose their leader and pointed out that Putin also wants to change Ukraine’s leadership.
He added that blaming Ukraine for rising oil prices is too easy, saying, “Everyone in the world understands that the rise in oil prices is due to the war in the Middle East.”
Earlier on Sunday, Zelensky stated Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also ceases attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Under the terms of the deal as explained by Trump on Friday, Russia would immediately supply over 300,000 tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets—equivalent to about 2.25 million barrels of fuel—while the U.S. currently exports around 1.5 million barrels of diesel per day.
This suspension of sanctions on Russian oil comes as Trump faces pressure to reduce rising domestic fuel prices ahead of the November midterm elections, which will determine if his Republican Party retains its congressional majority for the last two years of his term.
Many members of Congress, including Republicans, have criticized the diesel deal as rewarding Putin.
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Source:cna