Trump backs need for elections in Ukraine

The US president has said that Vladimir Zelensky is deeply unpopular

US President Donald Trump has said that Ukraine may have to hold new elections and insisted that its de facto leader, Vladimir Zelensky, is unpopular. 

Trump made his comments hours after US and Russian negotiators met in Riyadh to discuss ways to end the Ukraine conflict. It was the first such meeting since Trump’s predecessor, former President Joe Biden, suspended most of contacts with Moscow in 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly stated that Moscow no longer considers Zelensky legitimate because his five-year presidential term expired in May 2024 and no new elections were called due to martial law.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump insisted that Zelensky was widely unpopular at home. “The leader in Ukraine – I hate to say it – but he’s down at 4% approval rating,” Trump said.

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