Ukraine has lost a lot of territory and needs to hold elections, said US President Donald Trump, repeating his strong criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reported Agence France-Presse, BTA reported.
In an interview with the magazine "Politico" Trump said that it is time for elections to be held in Ukraine and accused Kiev of using the war as an argument not to organize a vote.
"Ukrainian leaders talk about democracy, but we are reaching a point where this is no longer democracy (...). The Ukrainian people should have the opportunity to make their choice," the American president pointed out, specifying that "he does not know who would win" from possible elections in Ukraine.
The American president again criticized Zelensky for not reading the American peace plan for Ukraine, emphasizing that "a lot of people are dying" and it would be "a lot of good if he read it". According to Trump, Russia "has an advantage" and "always has", as it is "much bigger" than Ukraine, and this is a factor that "at some point will make the difference".
"This war should not have happened", Trump added, expressing regret for "millions of people killed".
He also criticized his predecessor Joe Biden for the aid he provided to Ukraine. "Biden gave them $350 billion. That was really stupid. "If he hadn't given them, maybe something else would have happened," the US president explained.
According to Trump, part of the problem with the war in Ukraine is that Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin "really hate each other a lot" and that's why it's "very difficult for them to try to make a deal."
Asked if Ukraine has already lost the war, Trump said that Kiev has already "lost a lot of territory." The US president also criticized European leaders, noting that "they're not doing a good job." "They talk too much and do nothing concrete", stressed Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is visiting Italy and the Vatican today, told two Italian publications that he is always ready for elections, ANSA reported, BTA reports.
He made this statement to “Messagerò“ and “Repubblica“ in response to Trump's accusations that he is using the war to avoid holding elections in Ukraine.
In the same interview, Zelensky was also asked whether he trusts Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni when it comes to negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Zelensky answered this question in the affirmative. On the topic of Ukraine, Meloni has already expressed support for the 28-point plan presented by US President Donald Trump recently.