Trump Urges Zelensky to Negotiate with Russia & Hold Elections Soon

Former president says Ukraine must act now to reach a peace deal and hold elections.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to actively pursue a peace agreement with Russia and to hold elections before the summer, signaling increasing pressure on Kyiv to find a resolution to the nearly four-year-long conflict.

Why it matters

Trump's remarks add another layer of pressure on Zelensky, who has maintained that elections cannot be held without a ceasefire and sufficient security guarantees. The potential for a successful resolution to the conflict could be seen as a significant political victory for Trump, potentially bolstering his chances in the upcoming midterm elections.

The details

Trump told reporters at the White House that 'Russia wants to make a deal, and Zelensky is going to have to get moving.' He added that Zelensky 'has to act or, otherwise, he's going to miss a great opportunity.' The former president's call for elections in Ukraine comes as Ukrainian law currently prohibits elections due to martial law, which has been in effect since 2022. Zelensky has consistently maintained that elections cannot be held without a ceasefire and sufficient security guarantees.

  • The anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is on February 24, 2022.
  • In December 2025, Trump stated that peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were 'getting a lot closer, maybe very close' following a meeting with Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago and a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
  • In December 2025, Trump indicated that the two sides had agreed on approximately 95% of the issues needed to end the war.
  • The upcoming days are expected to see further discussions on the conflict, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio scheduled to meet with Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference.

The players

Donald Trump

Former President of the United States who has previously expressed a desire to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Volodymyr Zelensky

President of Ukraine who has consistently maintained that elections cannot be held without a ceasefire and sufficient security guarantees.

Vladimir Putin

President of Russia, who has been involved in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Marco Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State who is scheduled to meet with Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference.

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What they’re saying

“Russia wants to make a deal, and Zelensky is going to have to get moving. He has to act or, otherwise, he's going to miss a great opportunity.”

— Donald Trump (newsdirectory3.com)

“Russia is not not winning the war and called for stronger sanctions against Moscow.”

— Volodymyr Zelensky (newsdirectory3.com)

“I think there is no greater victory for Trump than to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine. For his legacy, it's No. 1.”

— Volodymyr Zelensky (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The upcoming days are expected to see further discussions on the conflict, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio scheduled to meet with Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference.

The takeaway

Trump's remarks add to the pressure on Zelensky to find a resolution to the conflict, with the potential for a successful outcome seen as a significant political victory for the former president. However, Zelensky has maintained that elections cannot be held without a ceasefire and sufficient security guarantees, highlighting the ongoing challenges in reaching a comprehensive peace deal.