Trump suggests Ukraine should hold elections

US President Donald Trump said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should hold an election accusing him of repeatedly failing to reach a peace deal

with Russia and blaming him for high diesel prices.

A Ukraine opposition lawmaker pushed back against Trump saying Ukraine's constitution and its people determine when and who the country elects.

Speaking to reporters Saturday night after landing back at Joint Base Andrews following a rally in Tennessee, Trump doubled down calling for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

to hold elections. "Well, I think he (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy) should have an election. And, he could have settled this thing many times, and he should have an election.

And he can't raise the price of oil. He's done enough. This is a war that should have never happened. Ukraine-Russia should have never happened.

If I were president, it never would have happened. But President Zelenskyy could have solved this war. Or he could have made a deal many times. I've been there many times."

Ukrainian opposition lawmaker Kira Rudik reacted to Trump's call for Ukraine to hold an election saying the country's constitution and its people determine when elections take place

and who is elected. "There are actually two leaders in the world who demand that Ukraine has a new president. The first is President Trump, and second is dictator (Vladimir) Putin.

I have, as an opposition party leader, only one answer to that. We are acting according to Ukrainian constitution, and it's up to no other leader than Ukrainian people

who and when we will be electing."

Meanwhile Russian strikes killed at least 17 people in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region and wounded at least 18 others Ukrainian officials said Saturday.

Three children were among those killed when Russian aerial bombs hit residential buildings in the region.

This resident said "We were at home asleep. Then the alarm about guided aerial bombs started. My husband woke up and shouted."Lets go to the hallway."

We sat in the hallway yesterday and the day before too. We stepped out into the hallway and then this (the strike) happened."

Missiles also struck Kyiv in a daytime attack Saturday. The city's mayor said four people were wounded.