President Donald Trump called on Ukraine to proceed with national elections despite ongoing conflict, arguing that a wartime ban on voting should not block the democratic process.
Trump told reporters he believed Ukrainians deserved to choose their leaders freely, asserting that delaying elections risks undermining public trust and weakening the country’s future. He said he understood the security challenges but insisted that democracy must not be postponed indefinitely.
The proposal runs counter to Kyiv’s current wartime restrictions, which suspend normal electoral calendars until hostilities subside. Ukrainian officials have warned that elections during active conflict could jeopardize both voter safety and the legitimacy of the results.
Political analysts say Trump’s view puts pressure on Ukraine and its allies to weigh the costs of holding polls under duress against the symbolic importance of upholding democratic norms.