Trump drops wartime election quip to Zelensky
The US could also be in a state of war in three and half years, meaning no presidential election could be held, under conditions insisted upon by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, President Donald Trump has joked.
Speaking to media before two crucial meetings with the US president, Zelensky responded to a question on whether he will seek a mandate from the people of Ukraine before signing off on a conflict resolution. Moscow contends that his refusal to do so means Zelensky cannot be a legitimate signatory to any binding resolution.
“We need a truce to make possible democratic open and legal elections,” Zelensky responded. “During a war you can’t have elections,” he claimed.
Trump picked up on it: “So, in three and a half years from now...if we happen to be in a war with somebody… no more elections.”
“You like this idea,” Zelensky told the US president.
In July Ukraine’s parliament prolonged martial law, which was imposed in 2022 following the escalation of the conflict with Russia, until at least November 5. Elections are prohibited under these circumstances, but while lawmakers’ terms are automatically extended, the same does not apply to the presidency.
