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Both the US and Russia have questioned the legitimacy of Vladimir Zelensky, whose presidential term expired last year
Ukraine will hold a presidential election, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has told American journalist Tucker Carlson.
Vladimir Zelensky’s five-year presidential term expired in May 2024, after which he refused to hold new elections, citing martial law. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he no longer considers Zelensky a legitimate ruler and argued that his current status could be an obstacle to signing a definitive peace deal.
In February, Trump labeled Zelensky “a dictator without elections,” and claimed that he is deeply unpopular at home.
In an interview published on Friday evening, Carlson asked Witkoff, one of Trump’s main mediators between Kiev and Moscow, if he thinks Ukraine will hold an election.
“Yes. They’ve agreed to it. There will be elections in Ukraine,” the envoy replied. He added that Zelensky is “in a very difficult position,” given that Russia has a much larger population and nuclear weapons.
“He’s got to know that he’s going to get ground down. Now is the best time for him to get a deal done. President Trump can deliver him the best possible deal,” Witkoff said. He stressed that any aid will become “unsustainable” unless there is a clear plan on how to resolve the conflict. “We just can’t forever give money.”
Politico reported earlier this month that members of the Trump team were in communication with Zelensky’s political rivals, former President Pyotr Poroshenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko. Both politicians confirmed talks with the Trump administration but spoke against holding an election until the conflict with Russia is resolved.
