Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday a ceasefire in Ukraine is needed first to hold elections.

"If there is a need for elections now, there must be a ceasefire – at least during the election process and during voting," said Zelenskyy.

Speaking in Kyiv via video-link at a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, Zelenskyy said there is belief in Ukraine "that America should speak to the Russian side about this."

He said that Ukraine is "not hiding from democracy," but "to make elections possible, there must be a security component."

The leaders of Germany, Britain and France were among those taking part in the meeting of Ukraine's allies, dubbed the Coalition of the Willing, via video link.