Trump Allies Reportedly Held Secret Talks with Zelenskyy's Political Rivals - POLITICO

Four senior members of U.S. President Donald Trump's team held secret discussions with political opponents of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Orda reports, citing Politico.

The media has cited three undisclosed Ukrainian lawmakers and a Republican foreign policy expert.

Trump's allies reportedly held talks with Yuliia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister and head of the opposition Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party, and high-ranking members of the European Solidarity party of ex-President Petro Poroshenko.

The talks focused on Ukraine's ability to hold quick presidential elections, which cannot be held while martial law is in effect. Recent polls indicate Zelenskyy is comfortably ahead in the presidential race despite his rating dropping.

Valery Zaluzhny, a former army commander and Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain, is Zelenskyy's closest rival, falling behind by 20%.

When asked about potential talks regarding elections or peace negotiations with Trump's administration, Tymoshenko's spokesperson Natalya Lysova stated, "We won't comment on that yet." Similarly, Poroshenko's European Solidarity party responded, "Our narrative is not to push for elections but to secure free and fair competitive post-war elections in our country."

Both have publicly opposed holding the elections before the fighting ends.