T he United States is urging Ukraine to hold presidential and parliamentary elections by the end of the year, according to Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy to President Donald Trump for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg emphasized that such elections are crucial for democracy, even during wartime, and could be facilitated if a truce with Russia is achieved.
"Most democratic nations have elections in their time of war. I think it is important they do so," Kellogg told Reuters, adding that elections would demonstrate the strength of Ukraine's democracy. However, the proposal has sparked concerns in Kyiv, where officials worry that holding elections amid ongoing conflict could weaken the country and invite Russian interference.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose five-year term was set to end in 2024, has previously stated that elections could only be held if the fighting ceases and strong security guarantees are in place. Under martial law, imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, elections cannot currently take place.
Zelenskyy also warned against excluding Ukraine from U.S.-Russia negotiations, calling such a move "very dangerous." He stressed that any discussions about Ukraine's future must include Ukrainian representation to avoid undermining the country's sovereignty.
The U.S. push for elections comes as Trump and his administration work on a plan to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. While details remain scarce, Kellogg and other officials have reportedly discussed linking elections to a potential truce. However, the feasibility of such a plan remains uncertain, given the ongoing violence and Russia's history of meddling in Eastern European elections.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to escalate. On Saturday, Russian forces struck a dormitory in the Kursk region, killing nearly 100 people, including elderly and infirm evacuees. In separate attacks, Russian drones and missiles killed 12 people across Ukraine, damaging residential buildings and energy infrastructure.
As the war drags on, the U.S. proposal for elections highlights the complex challenges facing Ukraine in balancing democratic processes with national security. Stay tuned to GLiDE NEWS for further updates on this evolving situation.
0 Comments