President Zelensky Appreciates President Trump, Openly Holding Elections In Ukraine

President Zelensky with President Trump in the White House Oval Room. (Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky appreciated United States President Donald Trump, saying Ukraine was ready to hold elections, when the two leaders met at the White House, Washington DC on Monday.

In his post on social media X President Zelensky wrote there were important negotiations in Washington with many issues he discussed with President Trump.

"We discussed security guarantees. This is a key issue, as the beginning of the end of the war. We appreciate an important signal from the US about its readiness to support and be a part of it," he wrote on social media X as quoted Tuesday, August 19.

"Today's attention is focused on repatriating children, releasing prisoners of war, and civilians detained by Russia. We agreed to discuss this matter," he continued.

In a press conference in the Oval Room ahead of a meeting with President Trump, President Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to hold elections if the war with Russia ended and the situation was safe.

Today, important negotiations took place in Washington. We discussed many issues with President Trump. It was a long and detailed conversation, including discussions about the situation on the battlefield and our steps to bring peace closer. There were also several meetings in a… pic.twitter.com/YqkdRlyKCI

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025

Today, imports of negotiations take place in Washington. We uncovered many issues with President Trump. It was a long and detailed convergence, including discussions about the situation on the battlefield and our steps to bring peace closer. There were also multiple meetings in a ... pic.twitter.com / YqkdRlyKCI

"Yes, of course, we are open to elections, yes. We have to ensure security in certain situations, and a little bit, we need to work in parliament because during the war, we cannot hold elections," President Zelensky said when asked about his readiness to hold elections.

He said a ceasefire in the war was needed to allow the Ukrainian people to participate in democratic, open and legitimate elections. It is known that elections in Ukraine are currently suspended under martial law.

The two leaders were polite in public statements to journalists, unlike a tense meeting in the Oval Room in February.

President Trump interrupted the Ukrainian leader, saying, "So, shut up during the war we can't hold elections?"

With a smile, he added: "So allow me to say that three and a half years from now - leave me if we are at war with someone, there will be no more elections?"

President Zelensky immediately laughed, adding, "No, no."

President Trump and President Zelensky spoke privately before joining other European leaders for more than two hours of multilateral negotiations.

President Zelensky described his direct talks with Trump as "very good" and said they had discussed Ukraine's need for security guarantees.

"This is very important, that the United States is giving a strong signal and ready for security guarantees," Zelensky said.

In addition to the meeting with President Trump, President Zelensky attended the meeting of President Trump along with a number of European ally leaders, the Head of the European Union Commission and the Secretary General of NATO.

"Thank you to President Trump for the invitation and special format of our meeting today. Thank you to all the leaders who attended with us today," he said.