Ukraine has begun planning a presidential election along with a referendum on a possible peace deal with Russia after the Trump administration pressured Kiev to organize both votes by May 15 or else lose security guarantees offered by the United States, writes the British edition “Financial Times”, quoted by BTA.
The move, according to Ukrainian and Western officials, comes amid intense pressure on Kiev from the White House to complete peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in the spring.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Friday that the US wants all documents signed so that Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II ends by June.
“They say they want to do everything by June … so that the war ends,” the Ukrainian president said, adding that the White House wants to shift its focus to the US midterm elections in November. “And they want a clear schedule,” he added.
Holding an election would be a dramatic political U-turn for a president who has repeatedly argued that such a vote is impossible while the country is under martial law, millions of Ukrainians have been displaced and about 20 percent of the territory is under Russian occupation, the Financial Times noted.
According to Ukrainian and European officials involved in the planning, as well as others familiar with the matter, Zelensky intends to announce the plan for a presidential election and referendum on February 24, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Zelensky’s office did not respond to a request for comment. The US Embassy in Kyiv declined to comment.
Ukrainian and Western officials have stressed that both the timetable and the US ultimatum are unlikely to stick because they depend on several factors – including whether progress can be made towards a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But the plan underscores Zelensky’s desire to maximize his re-election chances while assuring US President Donald Trump that Kiev will not push through a peace deal if one can be reached.
Place a rating:
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
Assessment 3.9 from 21 voice.
date:2026-02-11 06:25:00