US Pushes for Ukrainian Elections After Possible Ceasefire, Says Trump’s Envoy | World News

The United States is urging Ukraine to conduct presidential and parliamentary elections, according to a special envoy to President Donald Trump.

Keith Kellogg, the special envoy for Ukraine and Russia appointed by Mr. Trump, mentioned that the elections could potentially be held by the year’s end, particularly if a ceasefire with Russia is achieved. He emphasized that such elections “need to occur”.

“Most democratic nations manage to hold elections even in times of war. I believe it is vital for them to do so,” Mr. Kellogg remarked to the Reuters news agency.

He further stated: “It is beneficial for democracy. A strong democracy allows for multiple candidates to run for office.”

Prior to his election, Mr. Trump claimed he could conclude Russia’s war in Ukraine within just one day.

Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Kellogg have indicated they are devising a strategy to facilitate a resolution to the conflict initiated by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Details regarding this plan are sparse, including any timeline for its execution.

According to two sources familiar with the conversations, Mr. Kellogg and other officials from the White House have discussed encouraging Ukraine to agree to elections as part of any initial ceasefire with Russia, as reported by Reuters.

Other Eastern European nations that have conducted elections in recent times have experienced allegations of interference from Russia.

It remains uncertain how Mr. Trump’s proposal would be viewed in Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously stated that Ukraine could organize elections this year, provided the fighting ceases and robust security guarantees are instituted to prevent Russia from resuming hostilities.

Mr. Zelenskyy’s five-year term was originally scheduled to conclude in 2024, but elections cannot be held while martial law is in effect, which Ukraine established in February 2022.

According to two former senior US officials, Washington has discussed the subject of elections with members of Mr. Zelenskyy’s administration in 2023 and 2024.

Officials in Kyiv have previously resisted discussions about elections with Washington prior to the last election, expressing concerns that holding votes during such a precarious period could undermine Ukraine and open the door to Russian influence operations.

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As the conflict continues, questions surrounding a possible resolution linger.

On Saturday, Ukraine’s military reported that Russian forces targeted a dormitory where people were preparing for evacuation in a part of the Kursk region held by Ukrainian forces.

The military’s general staff stated that a Russian-guided or glide bomb impacted the dormitory in the Sudzha town, located on the Ukrainian border, late in the afternoon.

Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, indicated in a video posted on Facebook that nearly 100 individuals were trapped under rubble, with sounds of moaning and cries being heard.

He added that the building primarily housed elderly and disabled persons.

In other news, a Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine on Saturday claimed the lives of 12 individuals, resulting in damage to numerous residential buildings and energy infrastructure, officials reported.

The majority of fatalities, eight in total, occurred in the central city of Poltava, according to Ukraine’s emergency services.

Additionally, one person was killed in Kharkiv due to a drone strike, and three police officers lost their lives while patrolling a village in the northeastern Sumy region.