The United States has not discussed the timing of elections in Ukraine with Ukrainian officials, including the possibility of holding them before the end of 2025. However, if President Donald Trump’s team raises the issue, Ukraine is open to discussions.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova made this statement in an interview with the Karpiak on Suspilne project, Ukrinform reports.
“When this issue was theoretically discussed in 2023-2024, our position was clear: hostilities must end first. During the war, we cannot ensure full access to voting or candidacy,” Markarova said.
Earlier reports said that Trump’s administration had raised the possibility of holding elections in Ukraine, potentially by the end of the year. Sources cited by Reuters claimed that U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg and other officials had recently discussed ways to push Ukraine to agree to elections as part of preliminary ceasefire agreements with Russia.
Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that under Ukrainian law, elections can only be held after the end of martial law. Any legislative changes to allow voting during wartime, he said, would be “very difficult” as Ukrainian society largely opposes the idea.
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also rejected the idea of holding elections during wartime.
Photo: Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S.
Source: Markarova on Kellogg's election remarks: This issue was not discussed
