Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, stated in an interview with Reuters that presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine, suspended during the war with Russia, «should be held».
«Most democratic countries hold elections during wartime. I believe it's very important», — said Kellogg, noting that it would be «beneficial for democracy».
Trump and Kellogg stated that they are working on a plan to broker a deal to end the war in the first few months of the new administration, but did not provide any details.
The plan is still being developed, but Trump administration officials have been discussing in recent days how to get Ukraine to agree to hold elections as part of the initial truce with Russia, sources told the agency.
According to two people familiar with the matter, officials are also discussing whether to insist on an initial ceasefire before attempting to reach a more permanent agreement. According to the interlocutors, if presidential elections are held in Ukraine, the winner could be responsible for negotiating with Moscow on a long-term treaty.
President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stated that Ukraine could hold elections this year if hostilities cease and reliable security guarantees are provided to prevent Russia from resuming military actions.
In an interview with Associated Press, Zelensky said that Russia does not want to participate in ceasefire negotiations or discuss any concessions that the Kremlin interprets as a loss, while its troops have an advantage on the battlefield, thus making more demands. He also noted that the negotiating table should include the US, Ukraine, Russia, and the European Union, as negotiations in any other format are futile.
Zelensky's five-year term was supposed to end in 2024, but presidential and parliamentary elections cannot be held under martial law, which Ukraine imposed in February 2022. Ukrainian law explicitly prohibits holding presidential and parliamentary elections under martial law.
Photo: Reuters