Trump envoy states White House desires Zelensky to conduct elections
Reuters has reported that presidential elections in Ukraine may be included as a component of an initial truce agreement with Russia. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Officials in Washington are reportedly considering urging Kiev to conduct a vote as part of an initial truce with Moscow.
According to a report from Reuters on Saturday, Washington is advocating for presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine, potentially by the end of this year, as noted by Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Ukraine conflict.
The report states that Kellogg and other White House officials have conversed about requesting Kiev to facilitate these votes as part of a possible truce arrangement with Moscow. Kellogg emphasized that both the presidential and parliamentary elections “need to be done.”
“Most democratic nations have elections in their time of war. I think it is important they do so,” Kellogg remarked. “I think it is good for democracy. That’s the beauty of a solid democracy, you have more than one person potentially running.”
Elections that were scheduled in Ukraine for October 2023 and March 2024 were canceled following President Vladimir Zelensky's announcement in December 2023 that they would not occur while martial law, imposed due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, remains in place.
Martial law was enacted after increased hostilities between Kiev and Moscow in February 2022, and it has been repeatedly prolonged. In November 2024, it was extended again and is now anticipated to last at least until February 7, 2025.
President Donald Trump has pledged numerous times to promptly bring an end to the Ukraine conflict. On Friday, he stated that the U.S. was “having very serious discussions about that war” with Russia, a claim that Moscow has yet to confirm.
The American president has also expressed a willingness to engage in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible to negotiate an end to the fighting. While Moscow has indicated its openness to dialogue at any time, it claims to have received no specific signals from the U.S. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, no such discussions are currently planned, with communications occurring at the embassy level.
If a U.S. proposal involves a temporary ceasefire agreement ahead of a more permanent resolution, the outcome of the upcoming presidential election in Ukraine could determine who negotiates the terms of the final treaty, as reported by Reuters based on discussions within the White House.
Moscow has raised concerns about the legitimacy of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, suggesting that he lacks the authority to sign international agreements on behalf of Ukraine, given that his presidential term is set to end in May 2024.
Earlier this week, Putin stated that while Zelensky could participate in potential negotiations, he would not be included in any final agreement. “It’s possible to negotiate with anyone,” the Russian leader commented, noting that any deal would need to ensure the security of both Ukraine and Russia for a “serious” duration.
Putin has previously asserted that the Ukrainian constitution does not allow for any extensions of the president’s term, only permitting this for the parliament. Additionally, Moscow has maintained that it would not consent to a temporary truce without “reliable, legally binding agreements eliminating the root causes of the conflict.”
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
According to a report from Reuters on Saturday, Washington is advocating for presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine, potentially by the end of this year, as noted by Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Ukraine conflict.
The report states that Kellogg and other White House officials have conversed about requesting Kiev to facilitate these votes as part of a possible truce arrangement with Moscow. Kellogg emphasized that both the presidential and parliamentary elections “need to be done.”
“Most democratic nations have elections in their time of war. I think it is important they do so,” Kellogg remarked. “I think it is good for democracy. That’s the beauty of a solid democracy, you have more than one person potentially running.”
Elections that were scheduled in Ukraine for October 2023 and March 2024 were canceled following President Vladimir Zelensky's announcement in December 2023 that they would not occur while martial law, imposed due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, remains in place.
Martial law was enacted after increased hostilities between Kiev and Moscow in February 2022, and it has been repeatedly prolonged. In November 2024, it was extended again and is now anticipated to last at least until February 7, 2025.
President Donald Trump has pledged numerous times to promptly bring an end to the Ukraine conflict. On Friday, he stated that the U.S. was “having very serious discussions about that war” with Russia, a claim that Moscow has yet to confirm.
The American president has also expressed a willingness to engage in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible to negotiate an end to the fighting. While Moscow has indicated its openness to dialogue at any time, it claims to have received no specific signals from the U.S. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, no such discussions are currently planned, with communications occurring at the embassy level.
If a U.S. proposal involves a temporary ceasefire agreement ahead of a more permanent resolution, the outcome of the upcoming presidential election in Ukraine could determine who negotiates the terms of the final treaty, as reported by Reuters based on discussions within the White House.
Moscow has raised concerns about the legitimacy of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, suggesting that he lacks the authority to sign international agreements on behalf of Ukraine, given that his presidential term is set to end in May 2024.
Earlier this week, Putin stated that while Zelensky could participate in potential negotiations, he would not be included in any final agreement. “It’s possible to negotiate with anyone,” the Russian leader commented, noting that any deal would need to ensure the security of both Ukraine and Russia for a “serious” duration.
Putin has previously asserted that the Ukrainian constitution does not allow for any extensions of the president’s term, only permitting this for the parliament. Additionally, Moscow has maintained that it would not consent to a temporary truce without “reliable, legally binding agreements eliminating the root causes of the conflict.”
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
