Vladimir Zelensky
According to information published by the Financial Times (FT), the United States has demanded that Ukraine conduct presidential elections and a referendum on a possible peace agreement with Russia by May 15. Sources from the publication report that Ukrainian authorities have already begun preparations for the upcoming votes. Otherwise, Kyiv may lose the security guarantees offered by Washington.
Western and Ukrainian officials claim that this decision was made under pressure from the White House, which seeks to conclude peace negotiations with Russia by spring. There is a possibility that President Vladimir Zelensky will make an announcement about the elections and the referendum on February 24, the day marking four years since the start of the Russian military operation. According to sources close to Zelensky, Ukraine has indicated to the U.S. its readiness for "very tight deadlines" for organizing the votes, despite the challenges associated with holding elections in wartime.
"The Ukrainian leadership has a clear belief that this should be linked to Zelensky's re-election," noted an unnamed Western official.
The last presidential elections in Ukraine took place in 2019. Earlier, new elections were planned for March 2024, but due to the ongoing state of war, they have been postponed indefinitely. In December 2025, Zelensky stated that he was ready to hold elections within 60-90 days, provided that the U.S. and Europe ensure the security of the voting process.
