Zaluzhny: Ukraine does not need elections, but peace won by war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on allies to continue sanctions pressure on Russia ahead of the next round of talks with the US on ending the war .

In particular, he stressed the need to crack down on the so-called shadow tanker fleet, which he said is helping Moscow to evade sanctions and fund the war. Negotiations between Ukraine and the US delegation are taking place without Russia's participation, with Washington also pushing for political solutions, including elections in Ukraine.

Zelensky conceded that elections would only be possible with a temporary ceasefire and security guarantees.

Meanwhile, divergent views are also emerging, with former army commander Valery Zaluzhnyi, now ambassador to Britain, stressing that Ukraine does not need elections, but peace won through war.

"Ukraine does not need time to prepare and hold elections, but peace won by war, which will secure the future for our children," he wrote in an article published by the Ukrainian daily NV on Sunday.

(reuters, mja)