Trump's call for Ukrainian election and the Riyadh talks
A look back at the day U.S. and Russian delegations were due to meet in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. president called for a Ukrainian presidential vote.
What happens to Ukraine's political calendar when its war is negotiated without it? On 18 February 2025, that question sharpened as U.S. President Donald Trump called for a new presidential election in Ukraine as part of a peace deal with Russia.
Talks in Riyadh
The call came on the day a U.S. delegation was due to meet Russian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On 16 February, it was reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would lead the delegation, which included National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. A Russian source said the meeting would take place on 18 February. The Russian side was expected to include Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov and SVR Director Sergey Naryshkin.
Europe sidelined
On 17 February, Lavrov said Europe had no role in any peace negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.
The legal backdrop
Presidential elections in Ukraine had been scheduled for March or April 2024. None were held, because Ukrainian law does not allow them while martial law is in effect, and martial law has been in force since 24 February 2022. Parliament has approved extensions in 90-day intervals. Later, it was extended for the 20th time, until 31 October 2026.
The statement on 18 February therefore linked a peace deal with Russia to a vote that Ukrainian law did not permit under martial law.
