Zelensky offers to hold elections and halt energy strikes if Putin agrees to 60-day ceasefire

From the Newshound archive · first published 12 October 2026.

Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will organise a leadership election in Ukraine and cease strikes on Russian oil refineries if Vladimir Putin agrees to a 60-day total ceasefire. The offer came after a volcanic public row with President Trump, who declared it was "time for Ukraine to get a new president" after Zelensky defied US demands to stop bombing Russian energy infrastructure. Trump had just sealed a deal with Moscow to release over a million tonnes of diesel onto world markets. Zelensky insisted any such arrangement must be backed by "real guarantees".

Trump fumed that Zelensky 'had better damn well stop' hitting Russian refineries, warning the strikes were hurting farmers and ranchers facing a global diesel shortage.

Washington lifted sanctions on Russian fuel the day before Zelensky struck a Russian diesel facility, directly triggering Trump's public demand for regime change in Kyiv.

Zelensky acknowledged Putin 'would also like to change' Ukraine's leadership — but insisted it is 'up to Ukrainians' to decide.