Mar 06, Kathmandu- Ukrainian opposition leaders Petro Poroshenko and Yulia Tymoshenko on Thursday backed a freeze on the election until peace is restored, after Washington officials reportedly discussed holding an early vote with their teams.

Ukraine has suspended the election under martial law. But Russia and US President Donald Trump’s team have demanded elections, arguing that President Volodymyr Zelensky is not a legitimate leader.

US news outlet Politico reported on Thursday that senior Trump aides had held secret discussions with Tymoshenko and senior members of Poroshenko's party about whether the country could hold early presidential elections.

Poroshenko, the leader of the opposition European Solidarity party and founder of the Rosen confectionery manufacturer, was elected president in 2014 and lost to Zelensky in the 2019 election.

During the conversation on Thursday, he said his team had “always been against holding elections during wartime.”

“We have said and will continue to say that elections can only be held after a ceasefire and a peace agreement with security guarantees for Ukraine are signed,” he said.

Poroshenko said his team was working “publicly and transparently to maintain bipartisan support for Ukraine.”

Criticizing Zelensky’s administration, he said there was a “lack of communication” between the Ukrainian government and the US administration, which “puts the state at risk.”