Putin offers election truce if Ukrainians in Russia can vote

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow could pause long-range strikes on Ukraine on the day of a presidential election, provided Ukrainians living in Russia are allowed to take part in the vote.

Speaking on Friday, Putin said Russia was prepared to consider measures to ensure election-day security, including refraining from attacks deep inside Ukraine, but only under specific conditions. Central among them, he said, was the participation of an estimated five to ten million Ukrainian citizens currently residing in Russia.

Ukraine’s president Vladimir Zelensky has declined to call an election, arguing that martial law makes a nationwide vote impossible. Moscow maintains that Zelensky’s mandate has expired and therefore questions his legitimacy. Under pressure from Washington, Zelensky reportedly agreed this month to hold an election within 90 days if Western allies can guarantee security.

Putin said Ukraine’s leadership must regain legitimacy through elections and warned against using a vote as a tactic to buy time to rearm or regroup while fighting continues.

“The government in Ukraine must become legitimate, and without an election, this is impossible,” said Putin.

Ukraine and its allies have urged a temporary ceasefire, but the Kremlin has rejected the idea, saying it would only accept a permanent settlement.

Moscow insists any lasting peace must include Ukrainian withdrawal from territories claimed by Russia, alongside commitments to neutrality, demilitarisation, and what it calls “denazification.”