The United States wants to see a general election in Ukraine by the end of the year if a peace agreement can be reached. This was reported by the British news agency Reuters, citing a senior representative of President Donald Trump.
Keith Kellogg, the US special representative for Russia and Ukraine, stated that the presidential election in Ukraine had been postponed due to the war, and it is necessary to organize it as soon as possible.
He further said, “In most democratic countries, elections are held even during wartime. I believe it is essential. It is also good for democracy. The most beautiful aspect of democracy is that the people have multiple candidates to choose from when voting.”
Both Trump and Kellogg have indicated that the new administration plans to negotiate a ceasefire within the first few months. However, little information has been disclosed about their strategy or plan.
According to two anonymous administration officials and a former official, Trump’s administrative team is discussing pressuring Ukraine to hold elections as an initial step toward a ceasefire. However, this proposal has not yet been finalized as an official policy decision.
Additionally, discussions are ongoing about whether a temporary ceasefire could lead to a permanent agreement. If a presidential election takes place in Ukraine, the winning candidate may be responsible for negotiating a long-term deal with Moscow.
Ukraine’s possible reaction to Trump’s proposal remains uncertain. President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stated in an interview that if the war ends and appropriate measures are taken to prevent future Russian aggression, they may attempt to hold elections later this year.