Zelensky Hits Back After Trump Claims Ukraine Should 'Get a New President' as Russian Conflict Rages On: 'How Can People Vote?'

"If President Trump wants to change the leader in Ukraine, he has to know only our people can change that and I am ready for elections, really," he said.

He specified the conditions required: "We need a minimum of 60 days for security of infrastructure to prepare elections. Now, we have attacks each hour, Iranian Shaheds attack us each hour, they attack us. And we are not speaking about dozens of Shaheds, we're speaking about thousands of drones, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, how can people vote?"

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump argued Ukraine needs different leadership.

"I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals and for some reason he never does," he said. "I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president."

The comments followed friction over a U.S.-Russia arrangement announced Friday that loosened limits on Russian diesel sales, as well as Trump's objections to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities.

Zelensky described the issues with an election without safety guarantees.

"It is not even about the law. The law is very important, but we speak about security," he said. "Each hour our people go to shelters, to bomb shelters, because of attacks from the Russians."

He urged that leadership change or an end to fighting will come after a halt in hostilities.

"If they want to stop the war, they have to go to ceasefire. If they want to do everything to change the president in Ukraine, they have to respect this choice of people like in your country and every country, including Russia, by the way."