The Madness of Wartime Elections: Why Ukraine Shouldn’t Be Forced Into a Vote

6 min readFeb 2, 2025

Recently, Keith Kellogg, a U.S. official and adviser to Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine should proceed with elections despite being in the middle of a full-scale war. This idea isn’t just bad; it’s blissfully ignorant or, worse, willfully complicit. What’s next? Suggesting a BBQ at a forest fire? Let’s tear this nonsense apart.

1. Russian Interference: Not Just Likely, It’s a Sure Thing

Picture this: Russia licking its chops at the thought of Ukrainian elections during a war. You think they’re just gonna sit this one out? Hell no! This is their Super Bowl, and they’ve been training for years.

Disinformation Olympics:

Russia’s propaganda machine is already running at full tilt, churning out lies faster than a politician on trial. Throw in an election, and they’ll flood the zone with fake news, rigged polls, and narratives about how the whole thing’s a sham.

Cyber Hijinks:

Oh, you think your voter rolls and election systems are safe? That’s cute. Russia’s got hackers who can turn your smart fridge into a voting booth. They’ll crash systems, flip votes, and then tell you it was your fault for not updating Windows.

Proxies Galore:

Moscow’s got candidates ready to play ball. “Vote for me,” they’ll say, “I’ll bring peace!” Yeah, peace… with a side of annexation and dictatorship. Sound familiar?

2. Elections in Wartime: A Recipe for Chaos

An election during war? That’s like hosting a wedding during an earthquake. What could go wrong? Everything.

Millions Displaced:

Who’s voting? Half the population’s scattered across Europe, couch-surfing in Poland. Good luck getting those ballots delivered.

Occupied Territories:

Oh, and let’s not forget the areas under Russian occupation. Exclude them? You’re abandoning your citizens. Include them? You’re handing the keys to the Kremlin. Great options, huh?

Election Day or Doomsday?:

Picture election day. Bombs going off. Proxy groups wreaking havoc. It’ll make the “Florida recount” look like a picnic.

3. The “Ceasefire” Scam

Ah, the classic “ceasefire” trick. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Like a little timeout in a kindergarten brawl. But here’s the deal: Russia doesn’t do ceasefires. They do pauses to reload.

History Repeats Itself:

Every ceasefire Russia’s ever agreed to? It’s just a chance to regroup, rearm, and come back swinging. Suggesting a ceasefire for elections is like asking a burglar to take five while you unlock the safe.

Negotiating with a Gun to Your Head:

Tying elections to a ceasefire forces Ukraine to the table with Russia’s terms. And Russia’s terms? “Give us your land, your freedom, and maybe your Netflix password.”

Frozen Conflict, Anyone?

A ceasefire without resolution turns this into another “frozen conflict,” like Moldova’s Transnistria or Georgia’s South Ossetia. And elections during that? It’s a rubber stamp on the mess.

4. The Real Game Here

Let’s not kid ourselves. This push for elections isn’t about democracy; it’s about playing political games at Ukraine’s expense.

Divide and Conquer the West:

Shifting the narrative to elections and ceasefires distracts from military aid. It fractures Western unity, making allies argue over priorities instead of standing firm against Russia.

Trump’s Cozy History with Putin:

Remember Helsinki? Or “Russia, if you’re listening”? This isn’t the first time Trump’s actions align a little too nicely with Moscow’s interests. Pushing elections during war gives Russia exactly what it wants: chaos in Kyiv.

2024 Campaign Optics:

Domestically, this plays well with isolationists. “See?” they’ll say. “We’re bringing peace, not weapons.” Except the “peace” they’re selling is just surrender with a PR spin.

5. Elections: A Wrecking Ball for Ukraine

Instead of strengthening Ukraine, wartime elections would smash it like a wrecking ball.

Internal Divisions:

You think Ukraine’s united now? Wait until candidates start slinging mud about the war, peace terms, and who’s to blame for what. That unity? Gone.

Russian Propaganda Jackpot:

A messy election is all Moscow needs to declare Ukraine illegitimate. “See?” they’ll say. “Even their democracy’s a joke.”

Draining Resources:

Organizing elections takes money, manpower, and time. Guess what else takes those things? Fighting a war for survival. Pick one.

6. Ignorance or Intent?

So, is this proposal stupid or sinister? Let’s weigh the options.

Blissful Ignorance:

Maybe they really think elections will fix everything. If so, they’re dumber than a bag of hammers. War zones aren’t exactly known for free and fair voting.

Calculated Complicity:

Or maybe it’s intentional. Maybe this is about forcing Ukraine into a weaker position, giving Russia an opening to meddle and destabilize. Either way, it’s bad news.

Conclusion: A Disaster Waiting to Happen

Advocating for elections in Ukraine right now is like handing a stick of dynamite to someone holding a match. It’s reckless, dangerous, and entirely avoidable.

This isn’t about democracy. It’s about playing politics while Ukraine fights for its life. And if that’s not obvious to you, congratulations — you’re either clueless or complicit. Either way, the people paying the price are in Kyiv, not Mar-a-Lago.

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