Trump calls for elections in Ukraine, Musk backs criticism of Zelensky: “He has gone too far

US President Donald Trump has said that Ukraine should hold elections, while claiming that Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate a deal to end the war.

These positions were reported by Bloomberg in a period when clashes between Russia and Ukraine continue to be bloody.

Trump linked his call for elections to criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying that Ukraine should move toward such a political process.

According to the US president, the conflict could have been ended several times through negotiations, but Zelensky had refused to reach an agreement.

Trump argued that a deal secured two years ago would have been more favorable to Zelensky and would have given him better terms. At the same time, he said that Vladimir Putin very much wants a deal.

Billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX and Tesla, also joined the criticism of Ukraine’s leader.

Musk said that Zelensky “has gone too far,” thereby reinforcing the position previously expressed by Donald Trump.

The reactions come at a delicate moment for international diplomacy, as the possibility of launching negotiations to end the war remains one of the main topics of political debate.

Meanwhile, the fighting continues to claim civilian lives. An 11-year-old was killed, while five other people, including two children, were injured in Russian drone and missile attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region on Saturday evening.

According to regional authorities, the strikes hit the Pokrovske area in Nikopol district. Among those injured were a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, who were taken to hospital along with three adults: a 47-year-old man and two women aged 49 and 61.

Regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said that Russian forces attacked the region more than 30 times on Saturday, using drones and artillery.

In Nikopol district, the attacks damaged residential buildings, a gas station and an ambulance.

Other strikes were reported in the Zelenodolsk community, in Kryvyi Rih district, where private homes and infrastructure were damaged.

Meanwhile, in the Mykolaiv community, in Dnipro district, vehicles and agricultural machinery were damaged.

Thus, while statements about a possible deal are increasing on the diplomatic front, the situation on the ground shows that the war continues to have serious consequences for Ukraine’s civilian population.