Donald Trump’s team has reportedly been engaged in secret talks with Ukrainian opposition leaders, fueling speculation about a potential push to oust President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The discussions, which included opposition figure Yulia Tymoshenko and senior members of former president Petro Poroshenko’s party, centered on the possibility of holding quick presidential elections in Ukraine—something Zelenskyy has firmly opposed under martial law, , Politico reported.
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy have been escalating, culminating in a heated Oval Office confrontation last week. Trump has publicly called for Ukraine to hold elections and even labeled Zelenskyy a “dictator” for not doing so. This growing rift comes as Trump’s administration cut military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, a move that has drawn concern from US allies.
Tymoshenko, a seasoned political player and two-time prime minister, has long aspired to the presidency but remains a marginal threat to Zelenskyy.
Interestingly, despite the reported talks with Trump’s team, she defended Zelenskyy, saying that elections during war would be “impossible and immoral.” Poroshenko, Ukraine’s former leader and billionaire confectionery mogul known as the “Chocolate King,” has been more critical of Zelenskyy but also opposed holding elections before a ceasefire.
The secret discussions have raised alarms in Kyiv. Some fear Trump’s outreach to Zelenskyy’s opponents could be an attempt to install a more pro-Trump leader or force Ukraine into premature peace negotiations with Russia. The U.S. has already scaled back its support for Ukraine, with Trump-linked figures like Elon Musk and Tulsi Gabbard amplifying claims that Zelenskyy is suppressing democracy.
With Trump’s national security adviser now hinting that aid could be restored if Zelenskyy comes to the negotiation table, Ukraine’s political landscape appears to be at a breaking point.