Donald Trump is calling for new elections in Ukraine and openly questions Volodymyr Zelensky’s continued existence in power. The president of the United States returns to attack the Ukrainian leader, accusing him of not wanting to reach an agreement to end the war with Russia. And this time he doesn’t just criticize his management of the conflict: he asks the Ukrainians to choose a new president, claiming that Vladimir Putin would be willing to negotiate instead.
Trump wants a new president in Ukraine: “Zelensky doesn’t want peace”
Trump’s attack began at the White House, shortly before his departure for an election rally in Tennessee. “I believe it’s time for Ukraine to have a new president,” he said. Then he added: “I suggest that they find a new leader capable of reaching an agreement, because he could have done many, but for some reason he never does.”
Trump also accused the Ukrainian president of ignoring his requests to stop attacks on Russian refineries. “I told him: do what you want, but don’t hit the refineries. There are many other targets. And he hit them,” Trump said, ordering Zelensky to stop.
“I think he should call an election. He could have resolved this situation many times,” Trump said while speaking to reporters on Saturday, October 10, after a telephone conversation with Putin the previous day. “Russia would like to find an agreement, but for some reason Zelensky doesn’t want to reach it,” added the American president.
Words that come at the height of the diplomatic clash between Washington and Kiev, which exploded after the American decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel to increase global fuel supply. A choice harshly contested by Zelensky, according to whom the new energy revenues will allow Moscow to finance the war.
Why Zelensky doesn’t call new elections in Ukraine: what the law provides
However, there is a fundamental obstacle to the request made by Trump: in Ukraine, presidential elections are currently prohibited by law.
The Ukrainian law on the legal regime of martial law expressly prohibits the holding of presidential, parliamentary and local elections during its implementation. Martial law has been in place since February 24, 2022, the day of the full-scale Russian invasion, and has been extended several times. The latest provision approved by the Ukrainian Parliament extended its application until 31 October 2026.
Zelensky was elected president in 2019 for a five-year term. The next presidential election was supposed to take place in spring 2024, but was not held due to war and martial law provisions.
Furthermore, Article 108 of the Constitution of Ukraine stipulates that the president remains in office until the inauguration of his elected successor.
To organize new elections while martial law is in force it would therefore be necessary to modify the current regulatory framework. Added to this are the material difficulties of organizing the vote in a country with occupied territories, millions of citizens displaced or living abroad and an ongoing conflict.
Kiev’s response: “Only Ukrainians can decide who governs them”
Trump’s words provoked a reaction from the Ukrainian government. President Zelensky leads our nation through a time of war, a war for independence, freedom and dignity. It has the support of the Ukrainian people and it is the Ukrainians who have the right to decide,” said Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.
Let’s go to the top of the list, Let’s talk about the story of the story. Once again, once again, after 12 months, once again дитини. Let me tell you what the story is. After 14 days, it was the first time – the last time. їхні життя. After 12 months, the last 12 months. Let’s go to the next page, let’s take a look. It started last 13 months. In the end the story of the story, the story.
Here’s the story of the story, so far Let’s look at the story, let’s see the story well, I’ll tell you what I’m doing. Потрібні інші сигнали. Let’s see what happened, let’s see what happened Let’s go to the next page. Let’s see what the story is. Here’s how the story began. Once again, that’s what happened.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 10, 2026
The opening to Russian diesel had been harshly contested by the Ukrainian president: “Russia has chosen war and will be willing to put an end to it only when it perceives that its ability to prolong the conflict is failing. Unfortunately, the signals that Russia received yesterday were of a completely different nature, suggesting that it could continue its attacks undisturbed. It is necessary to correct this situation. Strong signals are needed from the United States, Europe and other partners: signals in support of Ukraine and aimed at limiting the capacity of Russia to wage war and sow terror” Zelensky had written on
Meanwhile, on Saturday, a Russian bombing of the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia left at least 20 dead, including three children, according to local authorities. “Today Russia gave thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five guided bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” the Ukrainian president wrote.
On the negotiations front, American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Ukrainian and European representatives in Miami to discuss a peace proposal. The announcement on the diesel deal came just as these talks were underway, taking Kiev by surprise.