"This is a failed plan": The President's Office commented on the U.S. demand to hold elections.

Advisor to the President of Ukraine on communications, Dmytro Lytvyn, has opposed the call from U.S. Special Representative Keith Kellogg to hold elections by the end of the year.

A representative from the President's Office noted this on social media platform X.

Recently, Reuters published excerpts from an interview with Kellogg, in which he urged that parliamentary and presidential elections in Ukraine be held by the end of 2025 under conditions of an "initial" ceasefire.

“We have not seen the full interview with Mr. Kellogg, only a few quotes about the elections, making it difficult to fully assess his position. However, if his plan is merely a ceasefire and elections, then it is a flawed plan—Putin cannot be intimidated by just these two things,” Lytvyn wrote.

“Moscow continues to ramp up the production of missiles and ammunition, finding new ways to circumvent sanctions and profiting from oil. Clearly, all this weaponry is not being created to respect democratic neighbors. Russia's military alliance with North Korea is not related to respecting the ceasefire. Therefore, we would have certainly preferred to see a more profound approach from the officials of key partners,” added the advisor to Volodymyr Zelensky.

In an interview with VDT RK published on February 2, Putin referred to Zelensky as a “once acting head of state.” Previously, he stated his refusal to sign a peace agreement with Zelensky, claiming that the latter, in Putin's view, “due to his illegitimacy, has no right to sign anything.”

This position was commented on by the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha.

“Putin's remarks regarding the legitimacy of the President of Ukraine are absurd. Over the quarter-century of his time in the Kremlin, Ukraine has seen three presidents come to power through fair elections; President Trump returned for a second term after a stunning victory. This is democracy and legitimacy,” the minister wrote on social media platform X.

“Putin has usurped power by destroying the Russian constitution, killing or imprisoning opponents, decimating free media, orchestrating a sham vote for himself, and remaining in power longer than Stalin. Now this man lectures the world on legitimacy,” Sybiha added.

“Putin's statements are lies intended to mislead foreign leaders and the audience. Only fools can trust them. If anyone's legitimacy is to be questioned, it is the legitimacy of the Moscow dictator himself, who turns 20-year-old men into cannon fodder, men who were born when he was already in power,” the minister wrote.

Background. Recall that according to Reuters, the Trump administration expressed a desire for Ukraine to hold elections immediately after a ceasefire. The winner of the elections could be responsible for signing a more long-term agreement with Russia, according to the White House.