Zelensky on elections, trust in Trump and security guarantees
Responding to questions about Donald Trump's statements, in particular accusations of dictatorship and allegedly starting a war, Zelensky said that he is not a dictator and did not start a war. The President of Ukraine said this in an interview with the BBC.
Speaking about trust in Trump, the president noted that this is not just about one person, but about the United States of America as a state. According to him, security guarantees must be calculated for a long period, for example 30 years, and must be approved by the US Congress. He stressed that presidents change, but institutions remain.
Zelensky stated that security guarantees must be provided before the demand for elections to be held by this summer can be considered. He recalled that the presidential elections in Ukraine were supposed to take place in 2024, but this became impossible due to martial law, as the law prohibits voting while it is in effect.
The president noted that technically, elections are possible if changes are made to the legislation, but the issue of security remains a priority. He also drew attention to the difficulties associated with millions of Ukrainians abroad and the occupation of part of the territory.
When asked if he opposed the very idea of elections, Zelensky replied that if it was a condition for ending the war, they could be held. He added that the elections must be fair and recognised first and foremost by the Ukrainian people, as well as by international partners. At the same time, the president noted that he had not yet decided whether to run again.
Separately, Zelensky commented on the issue of licences for the production of air defence systems. According to him, the issue of air defence is the most difficult, and partners are not yet providing Ukraine with licences for the independent production of Patriot systems or missiles for them. The president was unable to explain why this is happening.
Speaking about the prospects of the war, Zelensky noted that the situation is developing in parallel directions and there is no single correct path. According to him, success for Ukraine means stopping Vladimir Putin. When asked whether Putin would stop the war, he replied that he could not give a definite answer.
