WASHINGTON — President Trump called for Ukraine to elect a new president, naming three prominent Ukrainian figures as possible contenders: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; Kyrylo Budanov, chief of Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence; and Mykhailo Fedorov, a defense official known for digital transformation efforts.
Zaluzhnyi, a popular military commander, was dismissed by President Zelenskyy earlier this year. The move prompted significant public debate within Ukraine.
Budanov has raised his public profile through his role in national security and intelligence operations during the ongoing conflict.
Fedorov has advocated for modernizing government and military structures.
Zelenskyy's term officially expired in May, but Ukraine postponed elections due to martial law declared after Russia's 2022 invasion. The Ukrainian constitution prohibits elections during martial law. Kyiv has said holding elections under current security conditions is impossible.
