Trump’s special envoy meets Ukraine’s Ambassador, talks truce and elections

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, held a "thorough discussion" with Ukraine's ambassador to Washington in their first official meeting, amid growing pressure for a resolution to the war and potential elections in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s efforts to forge strong ties with the Trump administration took a step forward on Thursday as Ambassador Oksana Markarova met with Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, for the first time since his appointment.

Markarova described the meeting as a "thorough discussion", noting that Kellogg and his team engaged in detailed talks with Ukrainian representatives. This comes as Kyiv seeks clarity on Trump's stance regarding the nearly three-year war with Russia, with the U.S. president previously pledging to bring a swift end to the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has already spoken with Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, while his administration is coordinating dates for an expected U.S. delegation visit to Ukraine.

While Trump has not outlined a clear strategy, Kellogg recently suggested that Ukraine should hold elections, potentially by the end of the year, if a truce with Russia can be agreed upon. However, Zelenskyy has ruled out elections during martial law, countering Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that his presidency has extended beyond its legal mandate.

Meanwhile, Russian officials suggest that preparations for a Putin-Trump meeting are at an advanced stage, with discussions reportedly taking place regarding a February or March timeline.

As diplomatic talks gain momentum, all eyes are on Trump’s next moves—particularly on whether his administration will push for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, or take a harder stance on military aid and conditions for peace.

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