Zelenskiy to Announce Ukraine Election and Peace Referendum Plans on February 24

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy intends to announce plans for both a presidential election and a national referendum on a prospective peace deal with Russia on February 24, marking the fourth anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion, according to a Financial Times report published Wednesday.

Citing Ukrainian and European officials involved in the planning, the FT reported that Kyiv has begun preparations for holding a presidential vote alongside a referendum on any peace agreement reached with Moscow. The proposed announcement date carries heavy symbolic weight, falling exactly four years after Russian forces crossed into Ukraine in what Vladimir Putin termed a "special military operation." Related: Iran Marks 47th Islamic Revolution Anniversary

However, multiple sources familiar with the negotiations expressed skepticism about the feasibility of such an ambitious timeline, pointing to significant unresolved obstacles standing between Ukraine and any viable peace framework. Related: Trump Weighs Exiting USMCA Trade Pact

Skepticism From Within

A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Zelenskiy could not realistically set elections and a referendum in motion without first agreeing on the fundamental terms of a peace deal with Russia—a milestone that remains distant despite months of U.S.-brokered negotiations.

"The Russians do not agree to a deal and they're not taking steps to end the war so how could there be...steps to hold elections?" the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of ongoing diplomatic efforts. 📚 Best Books on the Ukraine Conflict →

The Ukrainian presidency did not respond to requests for comment on the Financial Times report, leaving open questions about whether the February 24 announcement represents a firm commitment or a strategic messaging position designed to maintain pressure on both Washington and Moscow.

The 20-Point Framework

Organizing elections as soon as possible forms a central component of a 20-point peace framework that Ukrainian and American negotiators have been working to finalize since late last year. Reuters previously reported that U.S. officials have pushed for holding both an election and a peace referendum as early as May, though sources characterized that timeline as increasingly unrealistic.

The framework under discussion would see Kyiv hold a popular vote on any peace agreement alongside the presidential election, giving Ukrainian citizens direct democratic input on whatever territorial and security concessions might be required to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly advocated for rapid elections in Ukraine, though such a vote would require overturning martial law provisions that have banned political campaigning and voting since Russia's 2022 invasion. Public opinion polling suggests a majority of Ukrainians oppose holding elections while active combat continues, with many citizens displaced and millions living under Russian occupation. Related: Trump Set to Repeal Landmark Climate Finding

The Donbas Sticking Point

Recent U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi have failed to resolve fundamental differences over the status of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the negotiations. Russia has continued pressing for full control of the entire Donbas as a non-negotiable condition for any peace settlement—territorial demands that Ukraine has consistently rejected.

Ukraine currently maintains control over approximately 2,000 square miles (5,180 square kilometers) of the Donbas region, and Ukrainian officials have ruled out ceding this territory to Moscow. However, some Ukrainian policymakers have expressed openness to exploring creative solutions, such as establishing a demilitarized zone or creating special free-trade arrangements that might satisfy Russian demands for economic integration while preserving Ukrainian sovereignty. 📚 Top International Relations Books →

Complicating matters further, Kyiv has insisted on receiving robust security guarantees from the United States and Western allies before agreeing to any peace deal—a condition that would require NATO members to potentially commit troops or military resources to future Ukrainian defense. Such guarantees face significant political opposition in Washington and European capitals, where leaders remain wary of open-ended security commitments that could drag NATO directly into future conflicts with Russia.

The June Deadline

Behind the compressed timeline lies American electoral politics. Zelenskiy acknowledged in public remarks Saturday that Washington wants a negotiated solution to the conflict before June, when U.S. Congressional mid-term elections begin dominating the domestic political landscape. The White House fears that prolonged failure to resolve the Ukraine conflict could damage Trump's political standing among voters weary of American involvement in foreign wars.

That political pressure has driven the accelerated diplomatic timetable, even as the practical obstacles to holding credible elections in a war zone remain formidable. Ukrainian lawmakers have reportedly established a working group to draft necessary legal changes that would permit voting under martial law, though such modifications would require broad political consensus in a parliament fractured by three years of existential conflict.

Logistical Nightmare

Beyond the political hurdles, organizing a nationwide vote while missiles continue striking Ukrainian cities presents enormous logistical challenges. Millions of Ukrainian citizens have fled abroad as refugees, while millions more remain in Russian-occupied territories where participation in Ukrainian elections would be impossible. Establishing secure polling places, protecting voters from aerial bombardment, and ensuring electoral integrity in frontline regions would require unprecedented coordination between military and civilian authorities.

Security considerations also demand a viable ceasefire during any election campaign—a condition Russia has shown little interest in meeting. Russian forces have intensified attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in recent weeks, plunging cities into darkness during winter's harshest months and demonstrating Moscow's willingness to inflict civilian suffering as leverage in diplomatic negotiations. 📚 Books on Modern Warfare →

As February 24 approaches, Zelenskiy faces the unenviable task of balancing domestic political imperatives, international diplomatic pressure, and the raw reality of an ongoing war that shows no signs of abating. Whether the planned announcement materializes as a concrete roadmap or fades into the fog of diplomatic positioning may determine not only Ukraine's political future but the trajectory of European security for generations to come.