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Four senior members of Donald Trump's inner circle have held secret discussions with some of Volodymyr Zelensky's main political opponents.
Diplomatic sources for the prestigious magazine, Politico, indicate that senior allies of Donald Trump held talks with Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, an ambitious former prime minister and senior members of the party of Petro Poroshenko, Zelensky's predecessor as president.
Politico writes that the discussions focused on whether Ukraine can hold early presidential elections. These are being delayed in accordance with the country's constitution because Ukraine remains under martial law. Critics of holding the elections say they could be chaotic and play a role for Russia. Especially since many potential voters are serving on the front lines or living abroad as refugees.
Trump aides are convinced that Zelensky would lose every vote because of war fatigue and public disillusionment with rampant corruption. Indeed, his poll ratings have been falling for years, though they have risen since last week’s Oval Office debates, when the Ukrainian leader was shown the door after being reprimanded by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The latest poll shows Zelensky still comfortably ahead in the presidential race.
Zelensky's closest rival, trailing him by more than 20 percentage points, is Valery Zaluzhny, a former army commander who is now Ukraine's ambassador to Britain. Just 10 percent supported Poroshenko, known as the Chocolate King because of his confectionery empire. Tymoshenko received just 5.7 percent support.
Both Tymoshenko and Poroshenko have publicly opposed holding elections before the fighting ends, as has Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
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