Zelensky plans presidential elections and a referendum on a peace deal under pressure from the US

The US has reportedly warned Ukraine to hold the votes by this date or risk losing proposed US security guarantees that have been a crucial part of the peace negotiations. It comes days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the US had given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to end the war. If this is not met, the Trump administration will likely put pressure on both parties to meet this deadline. He said: “The Americans propose that the parties end the war early this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties exactly according to this schedule.

“And they say they want to do everything by June. And they will do everything they can to end the war. And they want a clear schedule of all the events.”

According to the Financial Times, Zelensky wants to announce the plan for the elections and referendum on February 24, citing Ukrainian and European officials, as well as others briefed on the matter.

This date is important because it represents the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Russia.

Russian forces are believed to have suffered 1.2 million casualties, including 235,000 dead, while Zelensky recently said 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed.

Neither Mr. Zelensky’s office nor the U.S. embassy in Kiev have commented on the reports.

Officials are said to believe that the timetable and the US June ultimatum are unlikely to hold.

Last month, the Ukrainian president said a document on US security guarantees for Kiev was “ready” but not yet signed.

Zelensky still enjoys significant public support, but his popularity has waned in recent years as the war has dragged on.

Ukraine has said it is willing to observe a US-proposed ceasefire banning attacks on energy infrastructure if Russia commits.

Repeated Russian airstrikes have targeted Ukraine’s power grid in recent months, causing power outages and disrupting heating and water supplies for families during a bitterly cold winter, increasing pressure on Kiev.