Musk suggests ‘amnesty in a neutral country’ for Zelenskiy to end war

Elon Musk, world’s richest man and close associate of U.S. President Donald Trump, proposed offering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy “some kind of amnesty in a neutral country” in exchange for “a peaceful transition back to democracy” in Ukraine.

US entrepreneur and US special government employee Elon Musk at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) 2025 at National Harbor, Maryland, USA, 20 February 2025. The Conservative Political Action Conference is an annual political conference attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the United States and beyond

EPA/WILL OLIVER

Musk made the statement on social media platform X in response to commentator Rogan O’Handley, who labeled Zelenskiy a “dictator” seeking to retain power by delaying elections.

True.

As distasteful as it is, Zelensky should be offered some kind of amnesty in a neutral country in exchange for a peaceful transition back to democracy in Ukraine. https://t.co/ZpF6nLIDtw

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2025

Echoes of Trump’s claims

O’Handley reiterated remarks by President Trump, who recently called Zelenskiy a “dictator without elections” and claimed the Ukrainian leader has minimal public support—claims Zelenskiy dismissed as “Russian disinformation.”

Zelenskiy has said he is prepared to step down if doing so brings peace to Ukraine or facilitates the country’s entry into NATO.

Elections on hold amid war

Zelenskiy’s five-year term ended on May 20, 2024, but elections were not held due to Russia’s ongoing invasion. Under martial law, Ukrainian legislation prohibits organizing votes and extends the president’s mandate until the inauguration of a successor once the war ends.

A recent survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that Zelenskiy currently enjoys a 57 percent trust rating among Ukrainians—an increase of five percentage points since December 2024.

(jh)

Source: PAP