US Envoy Confirms Ukraine Will Hold Elections
In an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who is involved in the talks between Moscow and Washington on the Ukraine solution, has assured that Kiev’s authorities will hold elections in the country. Carlson asked Witkoff if he believed the Ukraine would hold elections. Witkoff replied, “Yes, they have agreed. There will be elections in Ukraine.”
Witkoff added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in a “very difficult situation” as Russia has a much larger population and nuclear weapons. According to Witkoff, now is the best time for Zelenskyy to make a deal, as President Trump could offer him the “best possible deal.” However, the US cannot “give money forever” it was said.
The special envoy also shared that Zelenskyy and the head of his office, Andrei Yermak, “are largely in agreement that Ukraine will not join NATO.” The rejection of a NATO membership by Kiev is one of the main demands of Moscow. Witkoff noted that it is still possible to discuss a defense format for Ukraine that would be in line with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty (according to which an attack on a NATO member is an attack on all members).
Furthermore, Witkoff provided details on the ceasefire negotiations between the two sides. He said that a moratorium on the shelling of ships in the Black Sea is being discussed and predicted, “We are now approaching the implementation of that in the next week or so.”
He added that “the end goal is a 30-day ceasefire, in the course of which we will discuss a permanent ceasefire.