President Trump said in an interview Monday that Ukraine should hold new elections despite its ongoing war with Russia — prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to declare he’s “ready” for them to begin when voters can be safe. 

“I think it’s time. I think it’s an important time to hold an election,” the president told Politico reporter Dasha Burns. “They’re using war not to hold an election, but, uh, I would think the Ukrainian people would, should have that choice.”

Under Ukraine’s constitution, elections cannot be held during period of martial law — which President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed in response to Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Under normal circumstances, the terms of Zelensky and Ukraine’s parliament would have ended in May and August 2024, respectively.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Zelensky said he has the “will and readiness” to hold elections. But he cited issues in Ukraine’s way, including the security of voters in a war zone at risk of missile strikes and Ukrainian law that prevents elections when the country is under martial law.

Zelensky said he’s seeking a legislative fix, and if he has help from the US on ensuring the saftey of voters during a war, Kyiv would be ready to hold elections in “the next 60 to 90 days.”

“I’m asking now and stating openly: I need the United States of America to help me,” he said. “Together with European colleagues, we can ensure security for conducting elections.” 

“Maybe Zelensky would win,” Trump said of the prospect of a wartime election. “I don’t know who would win. But they haven’t had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”

The president also responded to a weekend claim by first son Donald Trump Jr. that the commander-in-chief may be willing to walk away from Ukraine, saying: “It’s not correct. But it’s not exactly wrong.”

“We have to, you know, they have to play ball,” the president went on. “If they, if they don’t read agreements, potential agreements, you know, it’s not easy with Russia because Russia has the upper, upper hand. And they always did. They’re much bigger. They’re much stronger in that sense.

“I give the people of Ukraine and the military of Ukraine tremendous credit for the, you know, bravery and for the fighting and all of that,” Trump said. “But you know, at some point, size will win, generally.”

The president’s comments came as his administration makes another effort to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since the Second World War, with Trump telling reporters Sunday that Zelensky had yet to read the latest peace framework hashed out by US and Ukrainian negotiators.

“It would be nice if he would read it,” the president told Politico Monday. “You know, a lot of people are dying. So it would be really good if he’d read it. His people loved the proposal. They really liked it. His lieutenants, his top people, they liked it, but they said he hasn’t read it yet. I think he should find time to read it.”

Zelensky disputed the accusation on Thursday, telling reporters he has in fact “read many different versions of this plan.”

“We’re working, we’re making changes. We’re in daily contact with our negotiation groups, now with Europeans, and with the United States,” he said. “… Soon, we’ll have work at the NSA level: Ukraine, Europe, and the United States.” 

“These meetings will happen, with steps almost daily. We’ll discuss security guarantees. I want to be personally involved, honestly,” he added.

But Trump, a day earlier said Zelensky was “gonna have to get on the ball and start accepting things.” 

“You know, when you’re losing, because he’s losing.”