Ukraine Could Hold Wartime Elections if US Brokers Winter Ceasefire With Russia, Zelensky Says

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that billionaire Elon Musk’s growing political influence poses risks to smaller countries, while expressing hope that the Democrats’ victory in the US midterm elections would bring stronger military assistance and pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate peace. Speaking to German satirist Jan Böhmermann in an interview for ZDF’s Magazin Royale, Zelensky addressed US politics, wartime elections, Germany’s Taurus missiles and the possibility of a winter ceasefire.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. ‘This concentration of power is dangerous’ Asked about Musk’s post-election message on X joking that his “election-interfering space lasers” had failed, Zelensky questioned whether the billionaire was joking. “I don’t know when he’s serious or when he’s joking,” Zelensky said. “For me, it’s too serious when he speaks about satellites.” He thanked SpaceX for providing satellite connectivity that proved critical during Russia’s invasion but criticized Musk’s attitude toward the war. “When a very wealthy person can influence US politics, that is dangerous for smaller countries,” he said. He argued that Musk’s comments about who should govern Germany or Ukraine were more than personal opinions because of his financial and political influence. “He has no right to influence that,” Zelensky said. The Ukrainian president also made a pointed remark about Putin’s alleged personal wealth. Other Topics of Interest Spain Pledges €437M in Military Aid to Ukraine Following Talks in Madrid The package comes as Russia steps up strikes on Ukraine’s rail and energy networks, damaging more locomotives in 2026 than in all previous years of the war. “He is the richest person in the world, they say. And who is the second richest? Putin. Maybe Putin is the richest. I don’t know.” Democrats’ victory raises hopes for Ukraine Zelensky welcomed the Democrats’ electoral success, saying stronger congressional support could help restore cooperation between Washington and Europe. “We have bipartisan support. I am grateful to the Republicans as well, but the Democrats speak very clearly about supporting Ukraine,” he said. He said the Democratic Party had signaled support for closer transatlantic ties and continued military and financial assistance to Kyiv. According to Zelensky, stronger Western support could alter Putin’s calculations. “If Congress now talks about strong financial support or weapons assistance, as Europe is doing today, I believe that will have a positive effect on Putin,” he said. Zelensky argued that increased assistance could bring Ukraine closer to negotiations by making Russia reconsider the costs of continuing the war. Addressing pressure from Washington and Moscow to hold presidential elections, Zelensky said voting under martial law would be unfair to millions of Ukrainians unable to participate. He cited approximately nine million Ukrainians abroad, millions living under Russian occupation and military personnel serving on the front lines. “Holding elections while soldiers cannot vote is unfair. It is 100% unfair,” he said. Zelensky said online voting could be considered but would require parliament to develop appropriate legislation and safeguards. He also warned that elections could deepen political divisions during the war. The president revealed that he had suggested Washington negotiate a winter ceasefire with Moscow. “I told the Americans: You can reach an agreement with the Russians for a ceasefire during winter. Then people will have electricity and water, and during that time we can also hold elections,” he said. He suggested that some figures in Washington wanted him replaced, but insisted that any election must give Ukrainians a genuine opportunity to vote. ‘Putin does not want to end the war’ Asked why Ukraine would not surrender territory to secure peace, Zelensky said Kyiv had repeatedly supported ceasefire proposals rejected by Moscow. “Putin does not want to end the war. Putin does not accept a ceasefire,” he said. He accused Western governments of failing to confront Russia after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, allowing Moscow to escalate its aggression. “People in the West think Ukraine has always received help. No, that is not true,” Zelensky said. He noted that substantial Western military assistance began only after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, eight years after the occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas. Zelensky presses Germany on Taurus missiles Zelensky renewed his request for German Taurus cruise missiles, criticizing the continued reluctance to supply them despite Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s earlier support while in opposition. “Taurus is a sensitive issue. I believe this approach is wrong,” Zelensky said, adding that Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius were familiar with his position. He argued that the missiles were needed to strike Russian ballistic missile launchers when Ukraine lacked sufficient interceptor missiles. “When the Americans cannot deliver anti-ballistic missiles, we have only one solution: We must destroy the launchers,” he said. He stressed that Ukraine was seeking to attack military launch sites, not civilian infrastructure. The Ukraninan leader also thanked Germany for its IRIS-T air defense systems, assistance to Ukrainian refugees and winter energy support. “Germany is now the biggest supporter in Europe, and we are grateful,” he said. From comedian to wartime president The interview also addressed Zelensky’s transformation from television comedian to wartime leader. “I’m a clown. I spent so long on television trying to make people laugh and doing silly things,” Zelensky told Böhmermann, himself a comedian. “We both did that. And now we’re sitting here having to talk about war. What the hell happened?” Zelensky said Russia’s aggression had fundamentally changed Ukrainian society, including his own life and career. Asked whether he would return to comedy after the war, Zelensky described entertainment as a good profession but stopped short of saying whether he planned to return. “Being president is good, too. It’s hard work, a big challenge,” he said. “You have to do everything to ensure your country survives during the war.”