The administration of President Donald Trump is calling on Ukraine to hold elections by the end of 2025, especially if a ceasefire with Russia is reached in the coming months, his special representative for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg told "Reuters".
According to Kellogg, the presidential and parliamentary elections, which were postponed because of the war, should be held as soon as possible, since democratic countries usually organize elections even during conflicts.
"It is important that this happens. "That's the foundation of a strong democracy - to have more than one candidate," Kellogg stressed.
Trump and Kellogg say they are working on a plan to end the war, but they have not yet revealed details about it. According to White House officials, the idea of holding elections in Ukraine has been discussed as part of a possible ceasefire agreement with Russia.
Among the options discussed is imposing a temporary peace that would allow for presidential elections. Ukraine’s elected leader will then be tasked with negotiating a long-term agreement with Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already said that elections can only be held if hostilities cease and there are strong international guarantees that Russia will not resume attacks.
Although the Trump administration has yet to formally request that Kiev hold elections by the end of 2025, the issue was raised as early as 2023 under Joe Biden as part of US efforts to strengthen democratic institutions in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, as his term expires in 2024, but martial law in Ukraine does not allow for elections. Moscow insists that Zelensky has no legal right to sign international agreements, but at the same time it admits that he can participate in negotiations.
However, Ukrainian officials believe that Putin is using the election issue as an excuse to reject possible peace treaties in the future.
According to former Western officials, the demand for elections poses serious risks to Ukraine's stability. The election could stoke domestic political tensions, weakening Zelensky's position and intensifying competition among potential rivals.
Even if the United States manages to convince Ukraine of the need for elections, the prospects for a quick peace remain uncertain.
The Kremlin has officially said that Putin is open to talks without preconditions, but Western diplomats, including former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor, believe that Moscow has shown no real willingness to compromise.
Zelensky insists that any deal with Russia must include guarantees from the United States and Europe, such as the deployment of foreign military forces on the front lines to prevent another invasion.