Moscow — where Putin has frequently declared that he does not recognize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a legitimate leader — rowed in behind Kellogg on Monday, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling reporters in Moscow that “President Zelenskyy’s term of office has ended.”
He said that the “legitimization of Ukraine’s leadership” would be necessary as part of any peace process.
Kyiv, for its part, fears that holding elections at this juncture would imperil Ukrainian cohesion and open the country up to destabilizing Russian influence campaigns.
Kellogg’s remarks, and the Kremlin’s quick embrace of them, have set off alarm bells.
A former Ukrainian minister, who was granted anonymity to freely discuss the sensitive subject, told POLITICO that “the alignment on elections between Washington and Moscow is worrisome,” adding, “I see it as the first evidence that Trump and Putin agree that they want Zelenskyy out.”
The Kremlin didn’t make clear if peace negotiations are conditional on Ukraine holding elections, or what sequence Russia has in mind, but Moscow said until political legitimacy has been established no final deal could be agreed. Kellogg, also, wasn’t clear on the sequencing of elections and ending hostilities.
