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FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meet in New York
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, New York City, September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton Image: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton
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Ukraine says U.S. push for truce, elections is 'failed plan' unless it consists of more

34 Comments
By Tom Balmforth

An aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday a U.S. call for Ukraine to hold an election after agreeing a ceasefire with Russia looked like a "failed plan" if that is all it consists of, though more details were needed.

President Donald Trump's top Ukraine official Keith Kellogg told Reuters the U.S. wants Ukraine to hold elections, potentially by the end of the year, especially if Kyiv can agree a truce with Russia in the coming months.

"We haven't seen Mr Kellogg's full interview, only a few quotes about the elections, so it's hard to fully assess his position," said Dmytro Lytvyn, Zelenskyy's communications adviser.

"But if his plan is just a ceasefire and elections, it is a failed plan – Putin won't be intimidated by just those two things," he told Reuters in a written statement.

Kyiv has repeatedly said it does not want a ceasefire without obtaining security guarantees that would stop Moscow regenerating its forces and launching another invasion in the future. Elections are currently prohibited under martial law, which Ukraine imposed after Russia's 2022 invasion.

Lytvyn said Ukraine would prefer to see what he described as a more in-depth approach by officials in key partners.

"But we remember that President Trump, in his meetings with President Zelenskyy, spoke deeply and wisely about the situation and what could actually pressure Putin," he said.

Ukraine has praised Trump and his "peace through strength" approach as Kyiv tries to win the backing it needs to create the conditions for a lasting and robust peace.

Lytvyn said it was important to move quickly to "real work between teams on a concrete plan to end the war and ensure lasting peace".

Nearly three years since Russia's full-scale invasion, Moscow's troops are advancing in eastern Ukraine, while Kyiv's forces are holding a chunk of a western Russian region. Both sides are conducting regular long-range drone strikes far behind the front lines.

© Thomson Reuters 2025.

©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.


34 Comments

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Putin has not come to the negotiating table. Trump can save a little of what remains of his dignity but only if he sends weapons to Ukraine!!!

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Ukrainian elections are not the sticking point. How to get Putin to accept NATO peacekeepers is.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

It’s just the ‘concept of a plan’. Don’t worry, the war will end eventually someday. That’s what 45 meant in his campaigning, apparently.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

An aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday a U.S. call for Ukraine to hold an election after agreeing a ceasefire with Russia looked like a "failed plan" if that is all it consists of, though more details were needed.

This is falling for Putin's crafty rhetoric. Ukraine doesn't need elections during wartime, they would be meaningless.

Putin's aim is to disrupt Ukraine politically, and the geniuses in Trump's seem to be falling for it.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

TaiwanIsNotChina

Ukrainian elections are not the sticking point. How to get Putin to accept NATO peacekeepers is.

True. Security guarantees have to be the center of the plan.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Everybody recognizes the need for elections in Ukraine except Zelensky.

His legal term as President has ended, thus any agreement he signs would be null and void anyways.

International Law experts in the US State Department understand that.

Zelensky's refusal to accept an election is the impediment to peace.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

MoriahToday 07:49 am JST

Everybody recognizes the need for elections in Ukraine except Zelensky.

> His legal term as President has ended, thus any agreement he signs would be null and void anyways.

> International Law experts in the US State Department understand that.

Obviously not, because it is against the Ukrainian constitution.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Putin has not come to the negotiating table. Trump can save a little of what remains of his dignity but only if he sends weapons to Ukraine!!!

That won’t happen, so it’s back to the drawing board

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Volodymyr.

expired president.

excellent example of "democrat".

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

dobre vam zajebava

Volodymyr.

expired president.

excellent example of "democrat".

Putin

expired president.

excellent example of "dictator".

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Even General Kellogg gets it: there is a severe legitimacy issue, walking around in Kyiv.

This really shouldn't be that hard a concept to understand.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

TaiwanIsNotChinaToday  06:38 am JST

Ukrainian elections are not the sticking point. How to get Putin to accept NATO peacekeepers is.

The peacekeepers are already there.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

MoriahToday 07:49 am JST

Everybody recognizes the need for elections in Ukraine except Zelensky.

His legal term as President has ended, thus any agreement he signs would be null and void anyways.

International Law experts in the US State Department understand that.

Zelensky's refusal to accept an election is the impediment to peace.

Putin doesn't want to negotiate with Ukraine anyways. Why isn't he on the horn with Trump?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

BurgerlandToday 09:31 am JST

"Putin has not come to the negotiating table. Trump can save a little of what remains of his dignity but only if he sends weapons to Ukraine!!!"

Copypasta is wrong all over again. Papa Trump will get both sides to the table and become the great peacemaker. Everyone will love him for that ( pro war Dem bros may be the exception).

Just two more weeks!

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

JJEToday 09:53 am JST

TaiwanIsNotChinaToday  06:38 am JST

Ukrainian elections are not the sticking point. How to get Putin to accept NATO peacekeepers is.

The peacekeepers are already there.

You'd feel us if we were there. Also russians like the veneer of doing things by the book.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

JJE

Even General Kellogg gets it: there is a severe legitimacy issue, walking around in Kyiv.

No, there isn't.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

There is no such thing as "NATO peacekeepers", plus that organization breaks all their agreements anyway and there is no way to sugar coat that fact.

Forcing anyone to 'negotiate' with the Kyiv regime, which has an elephant sized legitimacy issue sticking out the window, is foolhardy in the extreme.

Needs to be more of a focus on assessing which territories will be ceded on top of those that already have and working out a common-sense, UN-observed demarcation that is permanent, whilst including the obvious de-militarization, de-naughtiness and strict neutrality; all absolutely prudent to moving forward and restoring decency.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Yesterday, in another interview (AP) Zelensky said that 58% of American taxpayers' funds did not reach Ukraine. If Zelensky's claim is true — that he received only $75 billion of the more than $177 billion sent by Washington — where is the money and what will happen next? The clown said and it is here, it happened to USAid with no delay. Sure, coincidence.

But he will have to remember in which pocket there are the billions.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Putin yesterday in the weekly conversation with Pavel Zarubin noted that "we can negotiate with anyone," and if Zelensky wants to participate personally, then special people will be allocated from the Russian side "who will have these negotiations with him."

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Thus, Putin clearly indicated which place Zelensky could take at the negotiating table.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

It doesn’t look like peace will come until one side (Ukraine) or the other (Russia) gives up.

Keep on sending Ukraine the arms it needs to beat back this barbaric invasion.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

BurgerlandToday 10:06 am JST

Just two more weeks!"

Most understand it will take a little time, no problem, patience is a virtue. In any case, peace will come much faster under papa Trump than if the word salad team had won the election. US voters made the right choice.

Meetings can be scheduled in seconds but just two more weeks for that difficult first step!!!

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

JJEToday 10:05 am JST

There is no such thing as "NATO peacekeepers",

So there is nothing for you to P&M about in Kosovo then is there?

plus that organization breaks all their agreements anyway and there is no way to sugar coat that fact.

Four international treaties violated with russia's war of aggression.

Forcing anyone to 'negotiate' with the Kyiv regime, which has an elephant sized legitimacy issue sticking out the window, is foolhardy in the extreme.

A country negotiates with its enemies unless it is a criminal pos bent on wiping the other off of the map.

Needs to be more of a focus on assessing which territories will be ceded on top of those that already have and working out a common-sense, UN-observed demarcation that is permanent, whilst including the obvious de-militarization, de-naughtiness and strict neutrality; all absolutely prudent to moving forward and restoring decency.

All irrelevant to getting the proper security guarantees to keep animals on their side of the fence. There will be no goody bags handed out to russians this time, at least not without the contents being quite unpleasant for them.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

JJE

Needs to be more of a focus on assessing which territories will be ceded on top of those that already have and working out a common-sense, UN-observed demarcation that is permanent, whilst including the obvious de-militarization, de-naughtiness and strict neutrality; all absolutely prudent to moving forward and restoring decency.

I doubt that Russia will agree to de-militarization, de-naughtiness and strict neutrality, but it's worth trying.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Primusinter

Putin yesterday in the weekly conversation with Pavel Zarubin noted that "we can negotiate with anyone," and if Zelensky wants to participate personally, then special people will be allocated from the Russian side "who will have these negotiations with him."

More smoke from Putin. It's obvious that he doesn't want to negotiate in good faith.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

The truth is Ukrainians continue to suffer the consequences of this massacre. And the conflict is a dangerous, unwinnable proxy war undertaken by the Washington lobbies invested in Wall Street.

Praising the big US industrial military complex will make things worse. 

As a reminder that de facto Zelensky is not elected. His term ended on May 20, 2024, and the 2024 Presidential elections in Ukraine were canceled, citing martial law and general mobilization. Great examples for liberal democracies

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Fos

As a reminder that de facto Zelensky is not elected. His term ended on May 20, 2024, and the 2024 Presidential elections in Ukraine were canceled, citing martial law and general mobilization. Great examples for liberal democracies

As a reminder Putin is not elected.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Burgerland

More smoke from Putin. "

Why?

He wants to politically destabilize Ukraine.

It's obvious that he doesn't want to negotiate in good faith."

How is it obvious?

Because he is blowing smoke.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

As a reminder Putin is not elected.

And the source is Blackrock wires, I guess? The same company who needs to guarantee investors (and contributors) that billions and billions of US made weapons gets delivered in Ukraine in order to pay the commissions, right?

Fact: Presidential elections were held in Russia in March 2024. The incumbent president Vladimir Putin won with 88% of the vote, the highest percentage in a presidential election in post-Soviet Russia.

A reminder that Zelensky is not elected. His term ended on May 20, 2024, and the 2024 Presidential elections in Ukraine were canceled

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

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