Zelenskyy: Ukraine ready for elections in 60-90 days if U.S., Europe guarantee security

Zelenskyy stated this during a conversation with journalists, as reported by Espreso.

"I will say frankly that I am ready for elections. If the question is, I have heard hints that we are clinging to power, or I personally am," the president assured.

At the same time, he emphasized that safe conditions are necessary for holding elections.

"How to conduct it? How to do it under strikes, under missiles, regarding our military? The question is, how will they vote? You know this, I don't want to repeat it. And the second question is legislation," Zelenskyy stressed.

The head of state appealed to the U.S. and Europe with a request to ensure conditions for holding elections.

"I call on the United States of America to help me. Together with European colleagues, we can ensure security for holding elections. And then, in the next 60-90 days, Ukraine will be ready to hold elections. I personally have the will and readiness for this," Zelenskyy assured.

He also appealed to Ukrainian lawmakers to prepare proposals for relevant changes to the legislation.

"I ask that the deputies of our faction, our parliamentarians, prepare legislative proposals regarding the possibility of changing the legislative framework and the law on elections during martial law. Prepare this for me. I will be in Ukraine tomorrow. I expect proposals from partners, I expect proposals from our MPs and I am ready to go to elections," Zelenskyy concluded.

What preceded

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a visit to Italy, reacted to Trump's statement that elections should be held in Ukraine, noting that he is "ready anytime."

Earlier, Donald Trump said in a White House interview that "it's time" for presidential elections to be held in Ukraine.

"It’s been a long time. It’s, uh ... hasn’t been doing particularly well. Yeah, I think it’s time. I think it’s an important time to hold an election," Trump commented on a journalist's question about elections in Ukraine.

According to the White House chief, "they are using war not to hold an election," but Ukrainians should have such an opportunity.

"And maybe Zelenskyy would win. I don’t know who would win. But they haven’t had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore," the American leader added.