Zelensky Offers Elections in Ukraine With Ceasefire & Security Guarantees

Munich, Germany – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference his willingness to immediately hold elections, as previously requested by U.S. President Donald Trump, provided a ceasefire is established and security for the vote is guaranteed.

“Give us two months of a ceasefire and we will go to elections. That’s it,” Zelenskyy said when questioned on the matter.

Zelenskyy was elected in 2019 to a five-year term that concluded in 2024, and was automatically extended due to Ukrainian law prohibiting elections during wartime. This legal impediment has become a point of contention, with Moscow and, on multiple occasions, Trump, using it to question the democratic legitimacy of Zelenskyy’s government.

“President Trump can do it. Pressure Putin, make a ceasefire. And then our parliament will change the law and we will go to elections,” Zelenskyy stated, adding – to laughter from the audience – that if Russia also desires to organize elections, Ukraine is prepared to declare a ceasefire to facilitate that process.

The offer comes amid ongoing debate over the conditions necessary for a potential resolution to the conflict. Ukraine’s constitution prohibits national elections while martial law is in effect, a measure declared on February 24, 2022, the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion. The practical challenges of holding a free and fair election in a country with territory occupied by Russian forces are also significant.

In his address in Munich, Zelenskyy cautioned against the notion that dividing Ukraine to appease Russia would bring genuine peace, drawing a parallel to the pre-World War II appeasement of Nazi Germany with the invasion of Czechoslovakia. “It would be illusory to believe that the war can truly end by dividing Ukraine, just as it was illusory to believe that sacrificing Czechoslovakia would save Europe from a great war,” Zelenskyy said, in an apparent reference to Russia’s demand for Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas region, including territory it does not currently control in Donetsk.

“We cannot simply withdraw from our territory or trade away a part of it. It’s simply madness,” he added.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s willingness to do everything possible to ensure the success of the peace negotiations being spearheaded by the United States, and confirmed he is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich on Saturday to discuss the process for ending the war.

He also emphasized the need for security guarantees, urging both Trump and the U.S. Congress to swiftly approve the post-war security guarantees that Washington has negotiated with Kyiv. “We have solid agreements ready to be signed with the U.S. And with Europe. We believe that the security guarantee agreement should come before any agreement to end the war,” Zelenskyy stated. “And we hope that President Trump will listen to us. We hope that Congress will listen to us.”

Another condition for ending the war – included in the 20-point document negotiated by Ukraine with the U.S. That Kyiv hopes the Kremlin will accept – is an agreement in writing on a date for Ukraine’s entry into the European Union, Zelenskyy explained, reiterating his desire for this to occur by 2027.

The discussion around elections follows reports that Ukraine was considering holding a presidential election within the next three months, potentially under pressure from Washington. Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that Ukraine can hold elections after a peace deal with Russia is signed, but has recently signaled a willingness for a speedy vote as part of a U.S. Plan to end the war.

On Thursday, February 11th, Kyiv came under a “massive” attack from Russian missiles, with various buildings in the Ukrainian capital hit, according to officials. Residential and non-residential buildings were struck on both sides of the Dnipro River, and the south-eastern city of Dnipro also came under attack, with some private homes and cars sustaining damage. No casualties were reported in Kyiv, but emergency medical teams were dispatched.

As of Saturday, February 14th, 2026, the conflict in Ukraine is ongoing, marking day 1,450 since the full-scale Russian invasion began. The situation remains highly volatile, with continued fighting and diplomatic efforts to find a resolution.