President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is considering announcing presidential elections and a referendum on a peace agreement with Russia.
Financial Times reported this, citing Ukrainian and Western officials, as well as sources familiar with the matter.
Details
According to FT, preparations occur under pressure from the United States. They propose that Kyiv hold both votes by May 15. If Ukraine misses this, it risks losing the security guarantees offered by the U.S.
Sources from Zelenskyy’s team say that a final announcement on the elections will not happen until the security situation in the country is safe. The publication notes that February 24 is considered a potential announcement date, but no final decision has been made.
Ukrainian and Western officials emphasize that the timeline depends on security and progress in peace negotiations with Russia. It also depends on the readiness of Ukraine’s infrastructure to hold elections and a referendum during wartime. The Verkhovna Rada plans to review legislative changes in March and April necessary for organizing voting under martial law.
Meanwhile, a source from Zelenskyy’s presidential circle briefly commented on the Financial Times report:
“Until there is security, there will be no election announcements.”
Context
U.S. President Donald Trump previously indicated that American security guarantees depend on reaching a broader peace agreement with Russia, which could involve transferring control of Donbas. U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, stated that Washington has not set specific deadlines but seeks to end hostilities as soon as possible.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine does not consider a unilateral withdrawal of troops from Donbas or ceding occupied territories.
The Ukrainian Review previously wrote about what a full loss of Donbas would mean for Ukraine. It would not only involve losing part of the territory but also a strategic collapse – economically, in security, and politically. Donbas is one of the country’s key regions due to its concentration of natural resources, industrial infrastructure, and defensive lines established since 2014.
