Trump demanded elections in Ukraine and claimed that Zelensky’s approval rating is at 4 percent

After negotiations in Riyadh, U.S. President Donald Trump demanded elections in Ukraine and pointed to the low approval rating of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump argued that Ukraine needs elections if it wants a seat at the negotiating table, as Zelensky’s rating is extremely low. According to Trump, it is not Russia pushing Ukraine toward elections, but rather “the situation itself.”

“There haven’t been elections in Ukraine for a long time. As much as I hate to say it, Zelensky’s approval rating is now at 4%,” Trump stated during a meeting with journalists at his estate.

When asked whether the U.S. would support holding elections in Ukraine, Trump responded affirmatively. He emphasized that this is “not a demand from Russia but something coming from me, as well as from many other countries.”

“We are in a situation where there have been no elections in Ukraine, where martial law is in effect—essentially, a state of war in Ukraine. And the leader of Ukraine, I hate to say it, but his approval rating has dropped to 4%, and the country has been completely devastated. Completely destroyed. Most cities are in ruins.

Buildings are demolished. It looks like a mass demolition zone. In many cities, I mean.

They (the Russians) didn’t do it in Kyiv because, I think, they don’t want to launch too many rockets there. They’ve done it to 20%, but not 100%. If they wanted to do it 100%, it would probably happen very quickly.

But there are cities that are completely destroyed. And yes, I would say that when they (Ukrainian authorities) want a seat at the negotiating table, shouldn’t the people of Ukraine say, ‘You know, it’s been a long time since we had elections?’

This is not a demand from Russia. It’s coming from me, as well as from many other countries.”

Trump also claimed that Zelensky does not know where half of the U.S. financial aid to Ukraine has gone.

He expressed disappointment with Ukraine’s stance on the conflict with Russia:

“They had three years to come to the negotiating table,” Trump said.

Additionally, he stated that he is not opposed to European troops being sent to Ukraine, but reaffirmed that there would be no deployment of U.S. forces.

At the end of the briefing, Trump mentioned that he may meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the end of February.