Ukraine has begun planning presidential elections and a referendum on a peace agreement with Russia after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that Kyiv hold the vote by May 15, threatening to withdraw security guarantees otherwise, the British newspaper Financial Times reported, citing sources, as LETA reported, referencing the BBC.
The White House is putting serious pressure on Kyiv to conclude peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia this spring.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also told reporters last Friday that the U.S. wants the war to be stopped by the beginning of summer.
Holding elections would be a sharp political turn for the Ukrainian president.
Zelensky has repeatedly stated that elections are impossible while martial law is in effect in the country, millions of Ukrainians are displaced, and about 20% of the territory is occupied by Russia.
According to sources from the publication, Zelensky is preparing to announce plans for presidential elections and a referendum on February 24 — the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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