Zelensky is not ready for peace. First, he ran away from the minerals deal proposed by the US. Then, he went on to clash with US President Trump in the White House by showing his stubbornness. Now, it seems like he is running away from elections too.
Yes, a top advisor to Zelensky has asserted that the martial law in the country is here to stay even if a ceasefire with Russia is reached.
Mikhail Podoliak, in an interview with Italy’s La Repubblica on Friday, confirmed the same, effectively meaning the country won’t hold fresh elections anytime soon.
Martial law has been in place since the war with Russia began three years ago. Zelensky’s presidential term officially ended in May last year, but he has refused to hold a new election, sparking debates over the legitimacy of his administration.
Since Donald Trump took office in January, Washington DC has been working to mediate peace talks. This week, the US proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine said it was willing to accept, as long as Russia agrees.
Russian President Putin called the ceasefire idea “a good one,” but raised concerns about issues that must be resolved first. Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, mentioned that these issues would likely be discussed with the US during upcoming talks.
However, Podoliak stated that a temporary ceasefire wouldn’t mean the conflict is over.
Podoliak said: “We need to be ready to keep fighting until the situation is fully resolved”. He also stressed that the 30-day ceasefire wouldn’t unblock elections in Ukraine.
In January, Putin declared Zelensky to be illegitimate, which could make any agreements involving him invalid. Zelensky had also passed a law preventing talks with Russia’s current leadership.
The Trump administration has restarted talks with Russia, encouraging Ukraine to pursue a resolution. In February, the Kremlin said Putin was open to negotiations with Zelensky, but emphasized the need to address issues concerning his legitimacy as president.
You see, the issue of fresh elections in Ukraine is important for both Putin and Trump. They understand that a new government is required in Kyiv to better reflect the sentiments of the people and hammer out a peace deal accordingly.
Last week, it was reported that Trump has put three conditions before Zelensky for restarting peace talks.
Trump’s first demand is for the minerals deal to be signed as soon as possible. His second condition is that Zelensky changes his approach to peace.
During the White House clash, Trump claimed that Zelenskyy was not ready for peace, citing his “hatred” for Putin as a major barrier.
Trump said,: “You can see the hatred he has for Putin. It’s very difficult for me to make a deal with that kind of hate.”
As per NBC sources, Trump is urging Zelensky to consider giving up area currently occupied by Russia to quickly secure a peace deal.
Thirdly, Trump wanted Ukraine to hold elections, which could potentially lead to a new leader taking charge.
So, holding elections is central to Trump’s peace efforts in Ukraine.
Zelensky is busy throwing one spanner after another into the work of the US administration. The fact of the matter is that Zelensky, the comedian, loves clinging to his chair. He kept this war going on for so many years and kept flashing the NATO card before Russia just to keep his empire alive and kicking.
