Secret U.S.-Zelensky Opposition Talks on Early Elections in Ukraine
According to media reports, four senior White House officials have held confidential discussions with prominent Ukrainian opposition figures to explore the possibility of holding a presidential election amid the ongoing war. These talks took place just one week after a meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Weezha Roz-Kabul-Per three Ukrainian parliament members and a Republican foreign policy expert in the U.S., the American officials met in Kyiv with Yulia Tymoshenko, the opposition leader and former prime minister known for her political ambition, as well as senior members of the party of Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s ex-president. Tymoshenko is regarded as a longtime rival of Zelensky.
The primary goal of the talks was to assess the feasibility of holding an early presidential election in Ukraine. Under the country’s constitution, elections have been postponed due to the continuation of martial law following Russia’s invasion.
Opponents of holding elections under current conditions warn that millions of Ukrainian citizens are either on the front lines or displaced abroad, which could lead to instability and strengthen Russia’s position.
Critics argue that holding elections during wartime would undermine their democratic legitimacy and increase the risk of results being manipulated in favor of the Kremlin.
Supporters of the proposal, however, claim that elections could demonstrate Ukraine’s resilience against Russian pressure.
These negotiations occur amid strained relations between Zelensky and his Western allies, particularly the U.S., over financial challenges and disagreements on strategies to counter Russia.
Poroshenko and Tymoshenko have been vocal critics of Zelensky’s handling of the war and domestic policies.
Weezha Roz
