Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy, claims Ukraine will hold presidential elections, despite ongoing martial law. This assertion remains unverified. The Kremlin seeks to undermine President Zelensky’s legitimacy, and Witkoff maintains that Russia will not attack Europe.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, stated in an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson that Ukraine’s leadership has agreed to conduct presidential elections. Witkoff affirmed this without elaborating further during their discussion on March 21.
During the interview, Carlson mentioned a narrative from Russia suggesting that President Volodymyr Zelensky lacks legitimacy due to not being elected, which has been promoted by Moscow to undermine Ukraine. Witkoff’s response was affirmative, indicating that elections would indeed take place.
The Kyiv Independent has not been able to verify Witkoff’s assertions regarding the elections. The Kremlin has continuously sought to delegitimize Zelensky; for instance, on February 18, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that for Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in talks with Zelensky, the issue of Zelensky’s legitimacy must be addressed.
Since the onset of the full-scale war on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law. Ukrainian legislation necessitates elections to be safe, equal, and uninterrupted—standards that cannot be accommodated amid ongoing Russian aggression.
Additionally, Witkoff expressed confidence that Russia would not launch attacks on Europe, indicating that fears of Russian military expansion across the continent are unfounded.
In summary, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff asserted that Ukraine will proceed with presidential elections, although this statement has not been officially corroborated. The Kremlin continues to challenge Zelensky’s legitimacy to weaken Ukraine’s position. Moreover, the current martial law in Ukraine prohibits elections amid ongoing conflict, while Witkoff reassured that fears of a Russian advance into Europe are exaggerated.
Original Source: kyivindependent.com
