Ukraine is preparing for a potentially historic political moment as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to announce plans for Ukraine presidential elections and a nationwide referendum on February 24, according to a report by the Financial Times. The date is symbolically significant, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and underscoring the gravity of the decision at a time when the country remains at war.

The proposed move places the Ukraine presidential elections referendum at the center of global attention, raising questions about democracy, security, and peace negotiations under extraordinary circumstances.

A Symbolic Announcement Date

Zelenskiy, who has been in charge of Ukraine since 2019, is said to be planning to show the election roadmap on February 24. Since the invasion began, Ukraine has not held national elections because martial law says people can’t vote during a war. The announcement would show that Kyiv wants to bring back democratic processes even though fighting is still going on.

According to officials cited in the report, the Ukrainian president is considering holding the national election in May, alongside a referendum on any potential peace deal with Russia. If implemented, the Ukraine presidential elections referendum would allow citizens to vote simultaneously on leadership and the country’s future path.

Peace Deal Referendum Under Discussion

Reuters said last week that U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have talked about a plan that would allow the public to vote on any peace deal with Russia. A referendum held at the same time as national elections would ask Ukrainian voters to approve or reject the deal.

Such a move would give the Ukraine presidential elections referendum both domestic and international significance, effectively tying democratic legitimacy to any future settlement with Vladimir Putin. However, officials have stressed that these discussions remain preliminary and subject to security conditions on the ground.

Political Risks for Zelenskiy

Zelenskiy himself is taking a political risk with the plan. Ipsos’s most recent nationwide opinion poll shows that the president is three percentage points behind independent candidate Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Zaluzhnyi, who used to be a top military leader and is now Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, has become a strong alternative.

If elections proceed, the Ukraine presidential elections referendum could potentially bring an end to Zelenskiy’s extended tenure, reshaping Ukraine’s political leadership during a critical phase of the conflict.

U.S. Pressure and Tight Timelines

The move also comes after the US put more pressure on Kyiv, telling them to hold both the election and the referendum by May 15. Sources say that if this timeline isn’t met, it could make U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine less strong.

According to the Ukrainian election officials, it would usually take about six months to set up a vote in the current state of war. One source told Reuters that it might be possible to speed up the process, but it would still require a lot of legal and logistical changes. The source said that the Americans are “in a hurry.”

Legal and Security Challenges

Holding a Ukraine presidential elections referendum would require amendments to Ukrainian law, as elections are currently banned under martial law. Beyond legal hurdles, security remains a major concern. Ukrainian authorities have said they would seek a ceasefire throughout the voting campaign to protect the integrity of the process.

But people in Kyiv are very doubtful that Russia will keep its word about any temporary cease-fire. Officials are worried that Moscow could take advantage of the situation, pointing to times in the past when ceasefires were said to have been broken.

A Defining Moment for Ukrainian Democracy

As Ukraine weighs these decisions, the proposed Ukraine presidential elections referendum represents a defining moment for the country’s democracy. It will be hard to find a balance between democratic legitimacy, security during wartime, and international pressure. The next few weeks are likely to have a big impact on Ukraine’s political future and its path to peace, whether the vote goes ahead as planned or is delayed by events on the battlefield.

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