Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine should be placed under a transitional government to allow for peace negotiations and “democratic” elections. 

The temporary administration could be “introduced in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, the United States, European countries and our partners,” the Russian president suggested. 

He added: “This would be in order to hold democratic elections and bring to power a capable government enjoying the trust of the people and then to start talks with them about a peace treaty.” 

Putin has long claimed that Ukraine’s current government is illegitimate, as Volodymyr Zelensky has remained in power past his May 2024 mandate. Ukraine’s constitution however bans elections during martial law, which has been in effect since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The White House dismissed Putin’s proposal, with a security council spokesman saying Ukraine’s governance was determined by its people and its constitution. 

Sir Keir Starmer yesterday accused Putin of “playing games and playing for time” over a ceasefire, demanding the Russian president be given a strict deadline to agree to a lasting truce.