Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine could be prepared to conduct its first election since the 2022 Russian invasion, provided that international partners can assure security measures are in place.

Zelenskyy, whose presidential term was initially set to conclude in May 2024, highlighted two critical challenges facing the prospect of elections: ensuring security and establishing a legal framework. He has urged members of his political party to draft legislative proposals that would allow elections to occur while the nation is under martial law, as reported by The Associated Press.

Ukrainian legislation currently prohibits elections during periods of martial law, leading Zelenskyy to refrain from calling for a vote. This decision has received widespread support from the Ukrainian populace. The country has been under martial law since the conflict with Russia erupted in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the media during a press conference held at Lafayette Park, just outside the White House, on October 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“Furthermore, I am openly requesting—particularly from the United States, and potentially in collaboration with our European allies—to assist in guaranteeing the security necessary for conducting elections,” Zelenskyy told reporters via WhatsApp, according to various reports. “If these conditions are met, Ukraine will be ready to hold elections within the next 60 to 90 days.”

Zelenskyy’s change in tune comes after President Donald Trump accused him of using the war as an excuse to not hold elections. The U.S. president, who has called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections” in the past, warned that Ukraine was on the verge of not being a democracy anymore.

“They haven’t had an election in a long time,” Trump told Politico. “You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”

President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in New York City on Sept. 23, 2025. (Al Drago/Reuters)

In his interview with Politico, Trump also accused Zelenskyy of not being up-to-date on peace talks, saying he heard the Ukrainian president had not read the White House’s most recent proposal.

The Trump administration has been working to secure a peace deal to end the war that has gone on for nearly four years. Late last month, the administration presented a 28-point plan that Ukrainian and European leaders thought was too deferential to Russia’s demands. Ukrainian officials met with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and whittled the plan down.

The Trump administration has been working to secure a peace deal to end the war that has gone on for nearly four years. (Getty Images)

“We are working very actively on all components of potential steps toward ending the war,” Zelenskyy posted on X on Tuesday. “The Ukrainian and European components are now more developed, and we are ready to present them to our partners in the U.S. Together with the American side, we expect to swiftly make the potential steps as doable as possible.”

“We are committed to a real peace and remain in constant contact with the United States,” he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the State Department for comment.