Trump`s envoy declares White House requesting form Zelensky to pause elections

(MENAFN) The White House has expressed its desire for Ukraine to hold both presidential and parliamentary elections, possibly by the end of 2024, according to Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Ukraine conflict. Kellogg stated that elections should be held as part of a potential truce agreement with Moscow, emphasizing that democratic nations typically hold elections even during wartime.

Ukraine's presidential and parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for October 2023 and March 2024, were postponed by President Zelensky due to martial law, which has been extended since Russia's invasion in February 2022. The martial law is now set to continue at least until February 2025.

Trump, who has long advocated for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict, has suggested that the US is engaging in serious discussions with Russia about ending the war, and is open to talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow, however, has raised concerns about Zelensky's legitimacy to negotiate, as his presidential term officially expired in May 2024. Putin has stated that while negotiations are possible, any final agreement must address the conflict’s root causes and guarantee the security of both Ukraine and Russia.

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