Ukraine is preparing for presidential elections alongside a potential referendum on a peace agreement with Russia, amid pressure from US President Donald Trump’s administration to meet a reported mid-May 2026 timeline tied to proposed US security guarantees.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to outline the plan on 24 February, marking four years since the start of the war. The proposal signals a shift from Kyiv’s previous stance that elections were impossible under martial law and active conflict conditions.
Key developments:
• The US is reportedly urging Ukraine to finalise a Russia–Ukraine peace deal by June 2026.
• Security guarantees from Washington may depend on progress, including potential territorial concessions involving Donbas.
• Ukrainian parliament could consider legal changes in March–April to allow wartime voting.
• Experts, including Olha Aivazovska, warn rapid elections risk legitimacy due to displacement, frontline deployments, and security threats.
• Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko cautioned political competition during war could deepen internal divisions.
Ukraine and Russia remain divided over territory and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, leaving timelines uncertain.
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