Moscow has joined Washington in urging Ukraine to proceed with elections, raising concerns in Kyiv as the country continues to resist Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion.
This unexpected alignment has heightened fears in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be attempting to manipulate Kyiv and Washington against each other in discussions about how to conclude the war.
Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, stated, “In most democracies, elections occur even during wartime. It is essential and beneficial for democracy. A robust democracy thrives on having more than one viable candidate.”
Moscow, where Putin has often declared that he does not recognize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a legitimate leader, supported Kellogg’s comments on Monday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “President Zelenskyy’s term has expired.”
Peskov asserted that the “legitimization of Ukraine’s leadership” is necessary as part of any peace negotiations.
Kyiv, however, is concerned that holding elections at this critical moment could jeopardize national unity and allow destabilizing Russian influence campaigns to take root.
Kellogg’s remarks, along with the Kremlin’s swift endorsement, have raised alarm bells among Ukrainian officials.
A former Ukrainian minister, who requested anonymity to discuss this sensitive matter, expressed to POLITICO that “the alignment on elections between Washington and Moscow is concerning,” adding, “This appears to be initial evidence that Trump and Putin agree on wanting Zelenskyy removed.”
The Kremlin has not clarified whether peace negotiations are contingent on Ukraine conducting elections or what timeline Russia envisions, but they stated that no final agreement could be reached without establishing political legitimacy. Kellogg also refrained from specifying the order of elections and the cessation of hostilities.
Kellogg and other White House officials have proposed the idea of “encouraging Ukraine to agree to elections as part of an initial ceasefire with Russia,” according to Reuters. Kellogg has advocated for securing a fair peace deal for Ukraine by leveraging American influence over Moscow. He has argued that the U.S. should continue to provide military aid to Ukraine and offer security guarantees to Kyiv to deter further Russian aggression.
‘Security and Democratic Standards’
However, Ukraine currently cannot legally conduct elections.
According to the country’s constitution, elections cannot be held during wartime while Ukraine is under martial law. Zelenskyy declared a state of martial law at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, which led to the postponement of scheduled presidential and parliamentary elections last year.
Election experts have also raised doubts about the practicality of holding elections while the country is fighting for its survival under constant attack — with a significant portion of its population displaced, either domestically or abroad.
“Ukraine should conduct its next elections when it can ensure the security and democratic integrity of the process. This is not feasible during the ongoing all-out war,” stated election experts Peter Erben and Gio Kobakhidze from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, a U.S.-based non-profit.
Despite these concerns, Kellogg emphasized that “elections are necessary for Ukraine.”
Kellogg mentioned that elections could potentially occur by the end of the year, particularly if a truce with Russia is established, but he insisted that such elections “must take place.”
Zelenskyy has previously indicated that Ukraine could hold elections this year if fighting ceases and security guarantees are secured to prevent Russia from resuming hostilities.
Recently, Zelenskyy warned against U.S. and Russian discussions that exclude Kyiv in negotiations to end the war. “They may have their own relations, but discussing Ukraine without us — it is dangerous for everyone,” he noted.
On Sunday, Trump stated that his aides are already engaging with Russian officials about resolving the conflict. “We will be speaking, and I think we’ll perhaps accomplish something significant,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “It’s got to stop.”
