Kellogo: Ukraine cannot hold elections before the end of hostilities, although it is “a sign of healthy democracy”

The United States specialist in Ukraine and Russia Kit Kelloga acknowledged that the Constitution of Ukraine prohibits elections during active fighting, but still believes that they are needed. He stated this in a comment from Newsmax.

According to Kellog, “every democratic country has elections.” In particular, he recalled that the United States held elections during wars.

“They (Ukraine – Ed.) They can’t just now because it is in their constitution that Ukrainians cannot carry them out until hostilities are completed. But we will reach the moment when they need to hold elections. This is a sign of healthy democracy, ”Kellog said.

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He added that the expectations of the election does not mean that “Zelensky has to go.” At the same time, a US representative insists that a sign of healthy democracy is a willingness and ability to hold elections even in wartime.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that the elections in Ukraine will take place after the hot phase of war and the abolition of martial law.

Special Representative of US President Donald Trump for Ukraine and Russia Kit Kelloggus stated on February 1 that, subject to a ceasefire agreement with Russia, the United States want Ukraine to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections by the end of the year.

The President’s office responded to this statement by Trump Special Representative. Presidential Advisor Dmitry Lytvyn said: “If Kellog’s plan is simply a ceasefire and election, then it is a failing plan.”

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Earlier, in early January, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Constitution of Ukraine did not allow the presidential and parliamentary elections during martial law. At the same time, he suggested that if the “hot phase of war”, the parliament will abolish the martial law in the country and appoint an election date.

Ukraine held presidential, parliamentary and local elections of 2019 and 2020 during the Russian aggression, which began in 2014.

According to the Constitution of Ukraine, the next presidential elections in Ukraine should take place at the end of March 2024. But since the country has a martial law (introduced due to full -scale aggression of the Russian Federation in February 2022), the elections were delayed.