US President Donald Trump's special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, said that holding elections even during war is a sign of a healthy democracy. However, according to him, Ukraine cannot currently hold elections because it contradicts its Constitution.

On the air of the NewsMax TV channel, Kellogg noted:

"The Ukrainians cannot hold elections right now because it is against their constitution. The Ukrainians should not hold them until the fighting stops, but we will reach a point where they will have to hold elections. And that is a sign of a healthy democracy."

He stressed that this does not mean that President Volodymyr Zelensky should immediately step down. According to Kellogg, the country's ability to organize elections even during wartime is evidence of the stability of its democratic institutions. He recalled that the United States also held elections during wars.

Kellogg has previously suggested that Ukraine should hold parliamentary and presidential elections after a possible ceasefire agreement has been reached. However, Ukrainian law prohibits elections during martial law. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that elections in the country are only possible after martial law is lifted and conditions for holding them are created.

The Ukrainian Constitution expressly prohibits holding elections during martial law. In addition, holding elections in conditions of ongoing hostilities could threaten the safety of voters and create difficulties in organizing the electoral process, especially in frontline areas and in territories temporarily outside the control of the Ukrainian government.