Washington, USA – The Financial Times reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky intends to announce on February 24 a plan to hold presidential elections in conjunction with a referendum on a possible peace agreement with Russia.
This move represents a significant political shift. It coincides with the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The newspaper quoted Ukrainian and European officials involved in the consultations as saying that Kyiv had already begun planning for the two elections.
This step is part of broader arrangements related to a negotiation process that is being worked on in coordination with the United States.
Moreover, this development comes at a time when diplomatic efforts are intensifying to reach a formula to end the war that has been ongoing since 2022.
In contrast, a well-informed source expressed doubts about the feasibility of this timeframe.
He pointed out that holding elections or a referendum requires first reaching a clearly defined peace agreement with Moscow.
In addition, it requires ensuring a ceasefire during the election campaign period.
The source said that Russia “has not yet agreed to a deal and is not taking steps to end the war.”
This makes talking about elections at this time premature.
According to the source, Kyiv is trying to obtain security guarantees from the United States and its Western allies before agreeing to any final agreement with Russia.
Kyiv considers this condition essential for ensuring long-term stability. The Ukrainian presidency has not yet issued an official comment on the newspaper report.
A 20-point peace proposal is reportedly being finalized by American and Ukrainian negotiators.
It also includes a clause relating to preparations for elections as soon as possible after creating the appropriate security and political conditions.
