Reuters has learned of Trump's plan to encourage Kiev to hold elections for a ceasefire

The administration of US President Donald Trump has for several days continued discussing ways to convince Ukraine to hold presidential elections in the country as part of a ceasefire with Russia. This was reported by Reuters on February 1.

"[U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith] Kellogg and other White House officials have been discussing in recent days inducing Ukraine to agree to elections as part of an initial ceasefire with Russia," the publication said.

It is specified that such discussions are taking place due to the fact that the White House administration wants the newly elected president of Ukraine to take responsibility for agreeing a long-term deal with Russia.

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Earlier in the day it was reported that the United States believes that new presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine should be held by the end of 2025. The elections could take place by this date if Kiev manages to agree a ceasefire with Russia in the coming months.

On January 29, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that it was dangerous for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term expired on May 20, 2024, to be re-elected for another term, so he would stall negotiations with Russia. According to Medvedev, Zelensky will either be defeated in the election or his "piece will be removed from the chessboard by Anglo-Saxon grandmasters."

On January 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Zelensky had no rights to sign anything because of his illegitimacy. He reminded that the Ukrainian leader would need to legally confirm his legitimacy in the event of possible signing of peace documents between the parties.

Before that, on January 8, the mass media reported that Zelensky had allegedly decided to run for a second term in the future presidential election on condition that the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and ambassador to the UK, Valeriy Zaluzhnyy, would not run for president. The Ukrainian leader himself has not yet publicly confirmed his plans.

The press bureau of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) reported on November 11, 2024 that Washington is considering holding presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine in 2025 while fighting continues. Rada deputy Yevhen Shevchenko on November 6 called on Trump to help hold elections for the head of state in Ukraine, stressing that an authoritarian dictatorial regime would be the cause of the country's demise.

In May, Putin said that the issue of the legitimacy of the president should be resolved within the Ukrainian state, while the issue of the legality of the Ukrainian political leader being in office remains important for Russia.

According to the provisions of the Ukrainian constitution, Zelensky's presidential term ended on May 20, 2024. The election was supposed to be held in March last year, but it was canceled due to martial law in the country.