According to FT, Ukrainian authorities have already begun actively preparing for the upcoming elections. If the voting does not take place within the established timeframe, Kyiv may lose the security guarantees offered by the United States.
As reported by Ukrainian and Western officials, this decision was made under pressure from the White House, which seeks to conclude peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine before spring arrives. It is expected that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may announce the elections and referendum on February 24, the day marking the fourth anniversary of the start of the Russian military operation. Sources close to the president assert that Kyiv has signaled to American partners its readiness for "very tight deadlines" for holding the votes, despite the challenges associated with organizing elections in wartime.
“Ukrainian leadership is convinced that these events should be linked to Zelensky's re-election,” noted an anonymous Western official.
The last presidential elections in Ukraine took place in 2019. Initially, new elections were planned for March 2024, but due to the state of war, the dates were postponed. In December 2025, Volodymyr Zelensky stated his readiness to hold elections within 60-90 days, provided that the U.S. and Europe ensure security during the voting.
