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

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

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

EPA/WILL OLIVER

Musk made the statement on the X social media platform in response to a post by American political commentator Rogan O’Handley, who labeled Zelensky 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 Trump, who recently called Zelensky a “dictator without elections" and claimed the Ukrainian leader has minimal public support—a statement Zelensky dismissed as “Russian disinformation.”

Zelensky 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

Zelensky’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 Zelensky currently enjoys a 57-percent trust rating among Ukrainians—an increase of 5 percentage points since December.

(jh/gs)

Source: PAP