Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would run in presidential elections if they were held during the war, stressing that he considers it his duty to defend Ukraine until hostilities end.

Axar.az reports that Zelensky made the remarks in an interview with NBC News.

He said he was ready to seek a solution to holding elections if Russia agreed to a 60-day ceasefire, although current legislation requires at least six months of preparation after the end of the war.

“This is not just a matter of legislation, but also of security measures,” Zelensky emphasized.

He added that if the United States insisted on holding elections, Ukraine would need at least a 60-day ceasefire.

“If they really want this, I said: give us at least a 60-day ceasefire... Just 60 days, and we will do everything in our power to amend our legislation and prepare the necessary security infrastructure,” the president noted.

Zelensky also stressed that the military must be given the opportunity to vote, “since they are defending our country.”

He rejected suggestions that he was unwilling to hold elections, emphasizing that the decision on who leads the country must be made by the Ukrainian people.