Trump calls for Ukraine to hold elections, warns conflict shows Russia’s upper hand
Dasha Burns: “Is it time for Ukraine to hold an election, do you think?”
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) December 9, 2025
President Trump: “Yeah. I think so. It’s been a long time… Yeah, I think it’s time. I think it’s an important time to hold an election. They’re using war not to hold an election, but, I would think the… pic.twitter.com/ehVbNKu6tV
WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump addressed the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine in an interview with Politico on Tuesday, December 9.
During the conversation, the president was asked whether he believed Ukraine was at a point where it should hold an election, noting that due to Russia’s size, it could win the war.
Trump says Ukraine ‘using war not to hold an election’
While speaking with Dasha Burns, Donald Trump commented on Ukraine’s leadership and said that he believed it was time for the country to hold an election. He added that it had been a “long time” since Zelenskyy was president and that Ukraine hadn’t “been doing particularly well.”
Trump added that it was an important time to hold an election because they were “using war not to hold an election.”
The president added that the Ukrainian people should have that choice and that although Ukraine claimed it was a democracy, “it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”
Trump claims Vladimir Putin has ‘no respect’ for Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Trump chimed in on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “no respect” for Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“They really hate each other,” he claimed.
Trump further stated that a part of the problem was the two presidents’ hatred towards one another and that it was “hard” for them to strike a deal.
As he commented on trying to mediate the war, he recalled settling eight wars in the past, and said that he would have said the Ukraine-Russia war would have been the ninth, but it was “tough.”
“One of the reasons is the level of hatred between Putin and Zelenskyy is tremendous,” he added.
Donald Trump says Russia has the upper hand
When asked which country was in a stronger negotiating position, Trump claimed it was Russia. Explaining further, he said that it was “a much bigger country” and that it was a “war that should’ve never happened.”
Trump further stated that if he were president, the war wouldn’t have happened and certainly wouldn’t have gone on for four years.
🚨BREAKING:🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 POLITICO:
— 𝐀𝐋𝐏𝐇𝐀 ® (@Alpha7021) December 9, 2025
Which country right now is in the stronger negotiating position?
Trump: There can be no question about it. It’s Russia. It’s a much bigger country. pic.twitter.com/LAipsRN6Or
He added that the war could have evolved into World War III, but because of America’s mediation under the Trump administration, it didn’t.
“I think you would’ve had a much bigger problem than you have right now,” he added.
Donald Trump also criticized Europe for not “handling” it well, stating that the war was “a big problem” for the continent.
