Trump’s envoy suggests Ukraine should hold elections if a ceasefire is reached, but Zelensky warns against excluding Ukraine from peace negotiations.
Keith Kellogg, the special envoy for Ukraine and Russia under former U.S. President Donald Trump, has stated that the United States wants Ukraine to hold elections by the end of the year, particularly if a ceasefire agreement with Russia is reached in the coming months.
According to Kellogg, elections, which were suspended due to the ongoing war, “must be held.”
“Most democratic countries hold elections even in times of war. I think it is important for them to do so,” Kellogg told Reuters. “It is good for democracy. A strong democracy means having more than one person in the race.”
U.S. Peace Plan and Ukraine’s Response
Kellogg and Trump’s team have indicated they are working on a plan to mediate a ceasefire during the early months of a potential new Trump administration. However, they have not provided details on their strategy for ending the war, which began in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded by stating that Ukraine is open to holding elections this year, but only if hostilities cease and strong security guarantees are in place to prevent Russia from resuming attacks.
Additionally, Zelensky issued a stark warning about the dangers of excluding Ukraine from U.S.-Russia peace negotiations.
“This is not a good idea—it is, in fact, very dangerous,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine is suffering the consequences of an unprecedented aggression, with thousands of lives lost and massive destruction of infrastructure. Excluding us from these talks would be truly dangerous.”
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, has urged Ukraine to hold elections if a ceasefire is reached.
- Trump’s team is working on a peace plan, but details remain unclear.
- Zelensky has stated that elections are possible only with an end to hostilities and security guarantees.
- The Ukrainian president warned against Ukraine being excluded from U.S.-Russia negotiations.
