{
  "id": 13738553,
  "title": "Ukrainians will decide their next leader, Zelensky tells Trump",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/ukrainians-will-decide-their-next-leader-zelensky-tells-trump",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T15:06:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/ukrainians-will-decide-their-next-leader-zelensky-tells-trump/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to calls from U.S. President Donald Trump to replace him, stating that it is up to the Ukrainian people to choose their own leader. According to the Jerusalem Post, Zelensky told ABC's This Week that he would organize elections if Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a 60-day total ceasefire. The Kyiv Independent notes that Ukrainian law currently forbids elections during the martial law declared following the Russian invasion.\n\nThe exchange follows comments from Trump, who told reporters at the White House that he believes it is time for Ukraine to get a new president who can make a deal. The Jerusalem Post reports that Trump also criticized Zelensky for attacking Russian oil refineries, following the temporary lifting of U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel.\n\nZelensky stated that Ukraine is ready to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow stops its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. He also noted that while Ukraine is often blamed for rising fuel prices, global price increases are understood to be due to the war in the Middle East.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Post",
        "title": "Zelensky: Ukraine Could Hold Elections With 60-Day Ceasefire",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/zelensky-ukraine-could-hold-elections-with-60-day-ceasefire",
        "published": "2026-10-11T13:50:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Ukraine to hold elections if Putin agrees to 60-day ceasefire – Zelenskyy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/ukraine-to-hold-elections-if-putin-agrees-to-60-day-ceasefire",
        "published": "2026-10-11T14:20:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Zelensky says if Trump, Putin want elections in Ukraine, a two-month ceasefire is needed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/zelensky-says-if-trump-putin-want-elections-in-ukraine-a-two-month",
        "published": "2026-10-11T14:24:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "‘Up to our people’ to pick leader, Zelensky responds to Trump",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/up-to-our-people-to-pick-leader-zelensky-responds-to-trump",
        "published": "2026-10-11T14:30:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "'Do not break it': Trump announces ‘energy ceasefire’ between Russia, Ukraine amid escalating tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/do-not-break-it-trump-announces-energy-ceasefire-between-russia",
        "published": "2026-10-11T14:30:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Trump says Russia, Ukraine agree to energy ceasefire – 'news for me', Zelensky says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/trump-says-russia-ukraine-agree-to-energy-ceasefire-news-for-me",
        "published": "2026-10-11T14:39:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Trump announces 'energy ceasefire' between Russia and Ukraine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/trump-announces-energy-ceasefire-between-russia-and-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-10-11T14:47:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Axios",
        "title": "Trump claims Russia and Ukraine agree to energy ceasefire",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/trump-claims-russia-and-ukraine-agree-to-energy-ceasefire",
        "published": "2026-10-11T14:55:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Ukrainians will decide their next leader, Zelensky tells Trump",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/ukrainians-will-decide-their-next-leader-zelensky-tells-trump-13741334",
        "published": "2026-10-11T15:24:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}