Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Ukraine should be temporarily governed by the United Nations while it holds new elections. Speaking from a Russian nuclear submarine in Murmansk, Putin claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership is not legitimate. He said Ukraine needs a government that has the trust of its people.
Putin Proposes U.N. Control Over Ukraine
Putin compared his idea to past cases where international authorities stepped in to help govern countries, mentioning East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and former Yugoslav territories. He insisted that Russia is open to discussing this option with the U.S., European nations, and the United Nations. However, the Ukrainian Constitution states that elections cannot be held during wartime. Despite this, Putin continues to question Zelenskyy’s right to rule.
A recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 69% of Ukrainians trust President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership, showing strong public support despite the ongoing war. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to challenge Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, insisting that Ukraine must establish a new government before any meaningful peace talks can occur.
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He argues that only a newly elected leadership would truly reflect the people’s will, yet Ukrainian law prevents elections during wartime, allowing Zelenskyy to remain in power. Ukraine and its allies view Putin’s demands as an attempt to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and influence its political future.
Trump Administration Rejects Putin’s Idea
The White House strongly dismissed Putin’s proposal. A U.S. national security spokesperson said Ukraine’s government is determined by its constitution and citizens, not by foreign powers. The U.S. has maintained its position that Ukraine should decide its own future without outside interference.
The U.S. has been working on peace efforts, including talks to establish a temporary ceasefire. However, Moscow has refused to agree, with European leaders accusing Putin of stalling. An American delegation has been negotiating separately with Russian and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday, the White House announced a truce agreement over the Black Sea, an important region that borders both Ukraine and Russia.
Ukrainian officials have not officially responded to Putin’s idea, but President Zelenskyy has previously stated that Russia’s peace terms would amount to Ukraine’s surrender. He has also expressed concerns about the trustworthiness of negotiations.
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Meanwhile, the Russian news agency Tass reported that another round of U.S.-Russia talks on Ukraine could take place in mid-April in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, Zelenskyy recently suggested that Russia may be influencing some U.S. officials involved in the peace talks.
Tensions Rise as Attacks Continue
As diplomatic discussions continue, fighting on the ground has not stopped. On Thursday, European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, met in Paris to discuss further military support for Ukraine. During this meeting, Zelenskyy accused Russia of prolonging the war and said Moscow had no real interest in peace.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy also criticized the Trump administration over a minerals deal being negotiated with Ukraine. According to him, the U.S. wants a 50% stake in Ukraine’s mineral wealth, oil, and gas reserves in exchange for military aid, but the terms keep changing.
On the battlefield, Russia launched 89 drones at Ukraine overnight, all of which were reportedly shot down by Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine’s Defenses Shattered in Kursk After Brutal Russian Onslaught
At the same time, Moscow accused Ukraine of firing missiles at the Sudzha gas metering station in Russia’s Kursk region, causing a fire. A Ukrainian official denied the accusation and claimed that Russia had attacked the station itself. NBC News was unable to verify either side’s claims.
Despite an informal ceasefire on energy infrastructure that began on March 18, Ukraine accused Russia of striking energy targets in Kherson on Thursday. The attack reportedly caused severe damage.
Putin, on the other hand, said that Russia is open to working with Europe but criticized European leaders for being inconsistent in their approach to the conflict.
As the situation unfolds, tensions remain high, with no clear resolution in sight.
