Trump Representatives Hold Secret Talks on Ukraine’s Leadership Changes

Four close allies of U.S. President Donald Trump have reportedly engaged in clandestine discussions in Kyiv with key opponents of President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to reports which cites three Ukrainian parliamentarians and an American foreign policy expert, the talks primarily focused on opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko and representatives from the party of former President Petro Poroshenko.

The central agenda of these meetings revolved around the potential for early presidential elections in Ukraine, despite the ongoing martial law that has effectively halted electoral processes. Sources indicate that the Trump associates arrived in the Ukrainian capital with a clear intent: to explore how swiftly they could facilitate a vote that might alter the current balance of power.

Hidden from public scrutiny, these discussions appear to be part of a broader strategy emerging from Washington, signaling a growing impatience with Zelensky’s leadership. U.S. officials believe that if elections were to occur, the incumbent president would likely face defeat, driven by widespread voter fatigue stemming from ongoing conflict and dissatisfaction with corruption.

The meetings with Tymoshenko and Poroshenko’s party are seen not merely as a reconnaissance effort but as a strategic move to identify potential leaders willing to align with the new U.S. administration and potentially succeed Zelensky.

Since Trump’s return to the White House in January, his approach to Ukraine has shifted significantly. The reelected president engaged in discussions with Vladimir Putin in February, followed by a contentious exchange with Zelensky in the Oval Office on February 28, during which he accused the Ukrainian leader of disrespecting the United States. This confrontation culminated in the Pentagon’s decision to suspend military aid to Kyiv starting March 4.

Trump views the prospect of early elections as a pathway to replace Zelensky with a leader more amenable to a peace agreement favorable to both Washington and Moscow. Among the potential candidates being considered is Valeriy Zaluzhny, the current ambassador to the UK, though his popularity pales in comparison to Zelensky’s. Poroshenko, despite his political experience, currently enjoys limited support, estimated at around 10%.