USA: Ukrainian Government Agrees to Hold Elections
Political
U.S. President's Special Envoy Stephen Witkoff announced that the Ukrainian government has agreed to hold presidential elections. Kyiv has not yet responded to this statement.
On Friday, March 21, U.S. Special Envoy Stephen Witkoff stated in an interview with Tucker Carlson that the Ukrainian government had agreed to hold presidential elections in the country.
Witkoff made this statement in response to Carlson's remarks that Russian officials refuse to sign any agreement with Volodymyr Zelensky, considering him illegitimate. The journalist asked whether elections would be held in Ukraine.
"Yes, they will happen. They have agreed to it. Elections will take place in Ukraine," said Witkoff. However, he did not specify who made this decision or when the vote might take place. Kyiv did not comment on the statement.
"The biggest issue in this conflict is the fate of four regions: Donbas (Luhansk and Donetsk regions), Crimea, and two others (Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions). These are Russian-speaking areas. Referendums were held there, and the vast majority of the population expressed their desire to be part of Russia. I believe this is the key issue in the conflict. Once it is resolved, we will have very positive negotiations," the U.S. special envoy stated.
According to him, Russia de facto controls these territories, but Ukrainian laws prohibit recognizing this fact. "The question is whether the international community will recognize them as Russian territories or not. And if Zelensky acknowledges this, will he survive politically? This is the central problem in the conflict," Witkoff said.
Additionally, Witkoff emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, had already "largely acknowledged that Ukraine will not become a NATO member."
For reference, Ukraine's presidential elections were supposed to take place on March 31, 2024. However, the Verkhovna Rada did not announce them due to the state of martial law in the country. The Ukrainian Constitution does not explicitly prohibit presidential elections during martial law, unlike parliamentary elections. However, such a ban is established by the law "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law."
Witkoff made this statement in response to Carlson's remarks that Russian officials refuse to sign any agreement with Volodymyr Zelensky, considering him illegitimate. The journalist asked whether elections would be held in Ukraine.
"Yes, they will happen. They have agreed to it. Elections will take place in Ukraine," said Witkoff. However, he did not specify who made this decision or when the vote might take place. Kyiv did not comment on the statement.
"The biggest issue in this conflict is the fate of four regions: Donbas (Luhansk and Donetsk regions), Crimea, and two others (Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions). These are Russian-speaking areas. Referendums were held there, and the vast majority of the population expressed their desire to be part of Russia. I believe this is the key issue in the conflict. Once it is resolved, we will have very positive negotiations," the U.S. special envoy stated.
According to him, Russia de facto controls these territories, but Ukrainian laws prohibit recognizing this fact. "The question is whether the international community will recognize them as Russian territories or not. And if Zelensky acknowledges this, will he survive politically? This is the central problem in the conflict," Witkoff said.
Additionally, Witkoff emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, had already "largely acknowledged that Ukraine will not become a NATO member."
For reference, Ukraine's presidential elections were supposed to take place on March 31, 2024. However, the Verkhovna Rada did not announce them due to the state of martial law in the country. The Ukrainian Constitution does not explicitly prohibit presidential elections during martial law, unlike parliamentary elections. However, such a ban is established by the law "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law."
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