Trump Proposes New Presidential Election in Ukraine as Peace Condition

US President Donald Trump said in an interview that Ukraine should hold new presidential elections as a precondition for peace negotiations, suggesting that a new Ukrainian leader might be better positioned to reach a deal with Russia.

The comments were reported by BBC and sparked immediate condemnation from Ukrainian officials. President Zelensky rejected the suggestion, saying elections cannot be held during wartime under Ukrainian law, and that the proposal plays into Russia's hands.

European allies expressed concern at Trump's comments, emphasizing that decisions about Ukrainian leadership are for Ukrainians to make. The White House did not immediately clarify the remarks.