Kyiv Under Fire… Zelensky Calls for Increased Pressure on Russia and Sets Conditions for Elections
Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was targeted at dawn on Thursday by Russian missile strikes, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration.
In a message posted on Telegram, Tkachenko stated that the attack occurred in the early morning hours, while a Reuters witness reported hearing loud explosions across different parts of the city. He added that “at least one person was injured in an eastern suburb,” according to preliminary figures.
In a related development, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that several buildings were struck during the bombardment of the capital. Writing on Telegram, he said: “The missile attack on the capital is still ongoing.”
Klitschko specified that both residential and non-residential buildings on both banks of the Dnipro River, which divides the city, were hit. Emergency teams were dispatched to the affected locations. Reuters witnesses confirmed hearing explosions throughout the city.
The attack comes at a sensitive juncture in the war that has pitted Ukraine against Russia since 2022, amid diplomatic efforts led by the United States aimed at ending the conflict.
Zelensky Sets Conditions for Elections
Amid the military escalation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his country would not hold presidential elections until a ceasefire is established and clear security guarantees are secured.
“The matter is very simple: establish a ceasefire, and elections will be held,” Zelensky said, stressing that martial law, in effect since the start of the Russian invasion, makes it impossible to conduct a vote under current conditions.
Media reports had recently suggested the possibility of announcing presidential elections in the coming months. Zelensky, however, described linking such a move to the anniversary of the Russian invasion as “utter nonsense.”
His term officially ended in 2024, but the continuation of the war and the imposition of martial law have prevented elections from being held. Moscow, for its part, has questioned his political legitimacy.
U.S. Pressure and Upcoming Talks
On the diplomatic front, Zelensky urged Washington to intensify pressure on Moscow if it seeks to end the war by the summer. He noted that Russia has yet to confirm its participation in a proposed new round of peace talks scheduled for next week.
He emphasized that ending the war does not depend solely on Ukraine but requires genuine pressure on Russia, while reaffirming Kyiv’s readiness to participate in a proposed trilateral meeting, following two previous rounds that failed to yield a breakthrough.
According to informed sources cited by Agence France-Presse, U.S. officials have proposed holding a meeting in Miami, while the Kremlin stated that the date for the next round of negotiations has not yet been determined.
The agency added that any potential electoral process would face significant logistical and security challenges, including safeguarding the voting process, ensuring the participation of millions of Ukrainian refugees abroad, and first reaching a comprehensive peace agreement.
Opinion polls indicate limited public enthusiasm among Ukrainians for holding elections during wartime.
