Ukraine Calls US Pressure On Ceasefire And Elections A 'Fall Plan'

JAKARTA - Presidential Aide Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday the United States' call for Ukraine to hold elections after agreeing to a ceasefire with Russia appeared to be a "failned plan" if that was all it meant, although more details were needed.

President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Reuters the US wants Ukraine to hold elections, possibly by the end of the year, especially if Kyiv can agree to a ceasefire with Russia in the coming months.

"We haven't seen a complete interview with Kellogg, just a few quotes about the election, so it's hard to fully assess his position," Ukrainian President Dmytro Lytvyn's communications adviser said.

"But if the plan is only a ceasefire and an election, it is a failed plan, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will not be intimidated by just those two things," he told Reuters in a written statement.

Lytvyn said Ukraine prefers to see what it describes as a more in-depth approach by officials in key partners.

"But we remember President Trump, in his meeting with President Zelensky, spoke in depth and wisely about the situation and what exactly could put Putin under pressure," he explained.

Kyiv himself has repeatedly said it does not want a ceasefire without obtaining security guarantees that will stop Moscow from rotating its troops and launching another invasion in the future.

Elections are currently banned under martial law, imposed by Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion.

Ukraine praises President Trump and his approach to "peace through power" as Kyiv tries to win the support he needs to create conditions for lasting and strong peace.

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

It is known that nearly three years since Russia's full-scale invasion, Moscow forces advanced in eastern Ukraine, while Kyiv forces took control of parts of western Russia. Both sides carried out long-range drone strikes routinely far behind the front lines.