Trump Drops Demand for Zelenskyy to Hold Elections in New Ceasefire Proposals
U.S. President Donald Trump has dropped his demand that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold national elections — a condition that could have ousted him from office — as part of ceasefire negotiations with Russia, The Gaze reports, citing The Telegraph.
The demand has been quietly removed from the latest American proposals for a negotiated truce, signaling a shift in Trump’s strategy as he positions himself to broker an end to the war.
Simultaneously, the Kremlin appears to be softening its rhetoric on forcing regime change in Kyiv, hinting at a potential readiness for talks that do not include removing President Zelenskyy from power.
Trump’s team made the move to ease tensions with Ukrainian officials, many of whom have raised objections to the broader terms of the proposed seven-point peace plan drafted by Trump’s camp.
Zelenskyy has previously warned that he could not sign any deal that might later be seen as betrayal by the Ukrainian people.
However, European diplomats remain skeptical of the shift. A senior European diplomatic source downplayed the significance of Trump’s reversal, warning that it could be part of a broader political tactic.
“We don’t see this as any great concession. A real concession would be Crimea. Trump’s tactic is to do two steps ahead and then one backwards and call it concessions. Let’s not fall for that,” the source said.
Despite removing the elections clause, Trump’s negotiating framework continues to be met with caution from Ukrainian leadership and their Western allies, many of whom are concerned about the implications of a deal that could freeze the war without addressing key issues such as territorial integrity.
Read more on The Gaze: Analysis: Trump’s Rhetoric on Ukraine Aligns with Kremlin Narratives