Name: Zelenskyy prepared to hold elections after Trump questions motive
Uploaded: 2025-12-10T17:53:05.782Z
Duration: 3 min 47 s
Description: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is commenting on potential elections in Ukraine under certain conditions. Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst joins CBS News with more on the war against Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is commenting on potential elections in Ukraine under certain conditions. Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst joins CBS News with more on the war against Russia.

Kyiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated his readiness to hold national elections within three months, provided the United States and other allies can ensure the security of the voting process. This comes after former President Trump questioned whether Ukraine is using the ongoing conflict with Russia as a reason to avoid elections, noting that elections have been suspended since martial law was declared at the start of the invasion in 2022.

Diplomatic efforts to reach a peace agreement remain stalled, with Russia demanding Ukraine cede additional territory in the Donbass region—a condition Ukraine rejects. Ambassador John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine, emphasized that recent negotiations have not brought the parties closer to a durable peace, as Russia continues to insist on territorial concessions that Ukraine considers unacceptable.

Zelenskyy prepared to hold elections after Trump questions motive

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is prepared to hold elections within three months So long as the US and other allies can guarantee the security of that vote in an interview with Politico President Trump suggested Kiev is using the ongoing war with Russia to avoid holding elections They've been suspended since Zelensky declared martial law at the beginning of Russia's invasion back in 2022 The Trump administration is pushing Kiev and Moscow to sign on to a deal to end the war Zelensky said he would not give up any territory to Russia Ambassador John Herbst is here. He served as US ambassador to Ukraine under the George W Bush administration He's also the senior director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center. Mr. Ambassador. Welcome. Thank you for joining us How can we find a way out of what appeared to be the major sticking points? Russia wants to keep the land that it has invaded and and Kiev says that's a non-starter Where's the compromise here? Let me offer you a slightly different understanding of where things are The issue is not whether Zelensky is willing to make compromises on territory He has demonstrated multiple times his willingness to do that the compromise on territory that he's willing to make Our compromise is proposed by President Trump when he was a candidate after he won the election and since he's become the president which is Essentially a ceasefire along the current lines held by the two militaries So he's ready to acknowledge on a de facto basis not by legal Recognition that Russia's in control of 20% of Ukraine and he's willing to have a ceasefire on that basis It's Putin who refuses the fight right now The diplomatic fight is Putin is demanding and it seems that some members of the Trump administration are with Putin on this That Ukraine must give over to Russia Highly fortified territory in the western Donbass, which the Russian military has been unable to seize despite the big invasion of nearly four years length That would be suicide for Ukraine and would in fact undermine Trump's own goal of achieving a durable peace Because if Russia is given that territory as part of a ceasefire They can break the ceasefire and can move easily westward to take more of Ukraine Yeah, that's a really important point that you're making there So then what do you make of this flurry of diplomatic movement over the past week? You had talks in Moscow talks in Florida Zelensky in Europe Do you get the sense that we're closer to a security peace deal because this also risks Pushing the u.s. Away from Europe somewhat in the US's new security posture we are farther from a peace deal because the only way you'll get a Durable peace Trump stated goal which leaves Ukraine sovereign independent and secure is to make sure Russia is willing to actually compromise and The 28 points that were sent to Ukraine had a very large Russian fingerprint or fingerprints plural That those documents caught that document called for giving Russia that land in western Donbass which is again against American strategic interest and fatal for Ukraine now the new the Negotiations in Geneva and in Florida remove those points and Putin said regarding the plan presented to him by Whitkoff and Kushner in Moscow We plus ago was oh, no that needs radical change because it does not demand Ukraine handing over territory Which Russia has been unable to conquer and it's good that doesn't include that Well, that is a sobering assessment as you say it does not appear they're getting closer to a peace agreement But we'll continue to watch this closely and call upon you for your expertise ambassador John herbs joining us from Virginia. Thanks for your time

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Zelenskyy prepared to hold elections after Trump questions motive

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Ukraine Invasion