New Delhi, Dec. 20 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (December 20) rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's suggestion that Moscow could halt strikes to allow Ukraine to hold presidential elections, stressing that Russia has no authority over Ukraine's election process.

"It is not Putin who decides when and in what format the elections in Ukraine will take place," Zelensky said, speaking to reporters.

Zelensky ruled out holding elections in areas currently occupied by Russian forces, saying any ballot must take place exclusively in territory controlled by Kyiv.

He said elections can only be conducted when security conditions are guaranteed, underlining that active hostilities make voting impossible in occupied re...