Zelensky adviser calls US envoy's election plan 'failure'
An adviser to President Zelensky has criticized a proposal by President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
According to RT on February 3, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - Mr. Dmitry Lytvyn criticized the proposal of President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, to hold elections in Ukraine before the end of 2025.
In a conversation with Reuters, Mr. Lytvyn emphasized: "If special envoy Kellogg's plan is just a ceasefire and elections, then it is a failed plan."
Earlier, Mr. Keith Kellogg said that the US administration wants presidential and parliamentary elections to be held in Ukraine by the end of this year, especially if Kiev reaches an agreement with Moscow on a ceasefire in the coming months.
The election issue was raised during the administration of former President Joe Biden, two former senior US officials said.
“State Department and White House officials have told their Ukrainian counterparts that the election is important in upholding international and democratic norms,” the source noted.
However, Kiev has resisted the idea of holding elections. Ukrainian officials have tried to convince representatives of the Biden administration that the election process under current conditions “would divide Ukraine’s leaders and could facilitate Russian influence operations.”
Ukrainian sources also noted that no formal request for elections has been received from President Donald Trump. However, according to Reuters, Mr. Zelensky has acknowledged this possibility, but only on the condition that hostilities cease and security is guaranteed.
Meanwhile, in a recent interview, President Zelensky stated that while martial law remains in effect, elections cannot be held in Ukraine.
In the opinion of leader Zelensky, the situation is complicated by the large number of citizens leaving the country, residents of “controlled” territories and military personnel on the front line.
The Ukrainian newspaper Telegraf, citing sources in Mr. Zelensky’s team, reported on January 8 that the Ukrainian leader had decided to run for a second term. According to the source, given his current approval rating, Mr. Zelensky is believed to have a chance of winning.
