Published December 10, 2025last updated December 10, 2025

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready for wartime elections within three months if allies guarantee security for polls. Plus, Ukraine and European allies prepare a revised peace proposal. Follow the latest.

https://p.dw.com/p/552bH

European leaders have called for Ukrainian security guarantees for the long term in any peace deal with Russia (FILE: October 2, 2025)Image: Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/picture alliance

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready for wartime elections if allies guarantee security, after Donald Trump accused him of holding on to power
• Zelenskyy said new components of a peace proposal hashed out with British, French and German leaders are ready for US review
• Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine is not willing to concede territory to Russia

*This is a roundup of the latest developments from Russia’s war in Ukraine on Wednesday, December 10, 2025: *

Skip next section Trump slams European leaders for being "weak"

December 10, 2025

Trump slams European leaders for being "weak"

In a wide-ranging interview with American news site Politico, US President Donald Trump doubled down on his criticism of Europe,calling European allies "weak" because of its immigration policies.

"They’re weak. They want to be so politically correct," Trump said in the interview, deepening a rift between Washington and Europe.

Trump also hinted in the interview that the US could walk away from supporting Ukraine, saying Russia has the "upper hand" and that "at some point, size will win."

In response, a spokesperson for the European Commission defended the bloc’s leader, saying the region remained committed to the union despite challenges like the war in Ukraine or Trump’s trade tariffs.

Last week, the US released a national security documentthat sharply criticized Europe along economic and cultural lines.

The document warned that Europe would have to change course if it didn’t want to face "erasure."

US stance, policy on Europe ‘not helpful,’ MEP tells DW

https://p.dw.com/p/552ej

Skip next section Zelenskyy says he is ready for elections, if US and Europe can guarantee security

December 10, 2025

Zelenskyy says he is ready for elections, if US and Europe can guarantee security

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to hold elections within 60 to 90 days, if the US and European allies could guarantee security for the poll during the war.

The comments came after US President Donald Trump toldPolitico he believed it was time for Ukraine to hold elections.

"I personally have the will and readiness for this," Zelenskyy told reporters.

"I am now asking, I declare this openly, for the United States of America to help me, possibly together with European colleagues, to ensure security for holding elections," he said.

He said conducting a poll would mean changing Ukraine’s election law, which does not allow for ballots to be held under martial law.

Ukraine has not held any elections since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbor in February 2022.

Zelenskyy’s five-year term in office ended in May 2024.

There are also concerns that Moscow may try to undermine the elections and install a pro-Russian leader.

https://p.dw.com/p/552bd

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage

December 10, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces pressure from the White House to secure a quick peace in Ukraine.

But Zelenskyy and European allies have pushed back on a US-backed plan that is widely seen as favorable to Moscow to end the war.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine and its European partners would soon present the US with "refined" documents to end the war with Russia.

On the battlefield, Russia said it was pushing into Ukraine, having captured 30% of the town of Myrnohrad, not far from the strategic city of Pokrovsk.

Follow along for developments throughout the day.

https://p.dw.com/p/552bI

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