U.S. President Donald Trump has called for presidential elections in Ukraine, arguing that Volodymyr Zelensky’s declining approval rating weakens Kyiv’s ability to negotiate peace with Russia.
"We’re dealing with a situation where there have been no elections in Ukraine. There’s martial law. The leader, I’m sorry to say this, but his approval rating has dropped to 4%," Trump said at a White House press conference. He suggests that without fresh elections, Ukraine’s legitimacy in peace talks is questionable.
Trump insisted that the push for elections was not a Russian demand but rather something he and other world leaders see as necessary.
The U.S. and Russia are currently engaged in negotiations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the first direct diplomatic talks between Washington and Moscow since the full-scale invasion began.
Trump praised the discussions, saying they left him more confident that a peace deal could be reached, while also noting that the Russian side appeared eager to negotiate.
Reports from Fox News suggest that the U.S.-Russia talks focused on a three-phase plan to end the conflict: first, a ceasefire; second, presidential elections in Ukraine; and third, a final peace agreement.
Trump implied that elections were necessary to give Kyiv legitimacy at the negotiating table, but this proposal has drawn backlash from Ukrainian and European officials.
European Parliament member Sergei Lagodinsky called the idea a “gift from Trump to Putin,” warning that it plays into Russia’s strategy of undermining Zelensky’s leadership.
How Popular is Zelensky Really?
The Kremlin has repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, with Vladimir Putin claiming that because the Ukrainian president’s term expired in May 2024, only Ukrainian parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk has the legal authority to sign a peace agreement.
This argument has been rejected by Kyiv and its allies, who maintain that martial law, imposed due to the war, prevents elections from being held and extends Zelensky’s mandate.
Trump’s claim that Zelensky’s approval rating has fallen to just 4 percent appears to be inaccurate.
A December 2024 survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 52 percent of Ukrainians still trust Zelensky, while 39 percent do not. Although war fatigue has taken a toll on his popularity, these numbers suggest he remains the most trusted political figure in Ukraine.
“Negotiations Without Us Are Meaningless”
Ukrainian officials have dismissed the Riyadh talks as meaningless, emphasizing that no negotiations can happen without Kyiv’s direct involvement.
Zelensky has repeatedly stated that peace talks with Russia are impossible unless Moscow withdraws its forces from Ukrainian territory.
His administration has also warned that any deal reached without Ukraine at the table would not be recognized.
