Zelensky: The Idea Of Elections During The War Belongs To The Russians

• 12.02.2026, 23:09

According to the Ukrainian president, the Kremlin wants to get rid of him.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has said that he is ready for elections and a referendum, but it is Russia that wants to "get rid of him". At the same time, he himself is not "clinging to power."

The Ukrainian president said this in an interview with The Atlantic.

Zelensky said that the tactic of negotiations with the United States, which Ukraine has chosen, "is so that the Americans don't think we want to continue the war.""That's why we started supporting their proposals in any format that speeds up the process."

That's why, The Atlantic notes, Ukraine has dropped some of its previous demands, particularly punishing Putin and Russian generals for war crimes in Ukraine. Two unnamed advisers to Zelensky quoted by the publication suggested that Kiev may even be willing to give up territory in the Donetsk region, which is now under its control.

"Sometimes I get the impression that it's something like, 'What else can we offer the Ukrainians just to see if they'll say no?' We are not afraid of anything. Are we ready for the elections? We are ready. Are we ready for a referendum? We are ready," the Ukrainian president says.

He says he is fine with a referendum, but reiterated that it must be a "proper agreement." And the idea of holding elections during the war, he said, belonged to the Russians "because they want to get rid of me."