Zelensky Rejects Election Timeline Report, Insists on Ceasefire Before Any Vote as US Pushes for Summer Deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back forcefully on Wednesday against a Financial Times report claiming he intended to announce presidential elections and a peace referendum on February 24, the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. In a briefing to reporters, Zelensky called the suggestion of using that date for political announcements "an absolutely stupid idea," insisting that security must precede any move toward the ballot box Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

The Financial Times had reported, citing Ukrainian and European officials, that Zelensky was planning to announce preparations for a presidential election and a peace referendum to be held as early as May 15, under mounting pressure from Washington to end the nearly four-year war by summer Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia.... The report said the United States would only provide security guarantees if Kyiv conceded by June, and that Washington was insisting Ukraine hand over the portions of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions it still controls Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

Zelensky's Pushback

Zelensky was unequivocal in his response. Speaking via a WhatsApp briefing with journalists, he said elections in Ukraine would only happen once a ceasefire was in place and adequate security guarantees had been secured from the United States and other Western allies Ukraine will hold elections after a ceasefire is in place, Zelensky saysfrance24.com·SecondaryPresidential elections in Ukraine will only happen once a ceasefire has been reached with Russia and Kyiv has received the security guarantees it needs, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday, rejecting a report suggesting he was considering calling Ukrainians to the ballots within the next three months..

"We will move to elections when all the necessary security guarantees are in place," Zelensky told reporters, according to France24 Ukraine will hold elections after a ceasefire is in place, Zelensky saysfrance24.com·SecondaryPresidential elections in Ukraine will only happen once a ceasefire has been reached with Russia and Kyiv has received the security guarantees it needs, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday, rejecting a report suggesting he was considering calling Ukrainians to the ballots within the next three months.. "I have said it's very simple to do: establish a ceasefire, and there will be elections."

The Kyiv Independent, citing sources at the presidential office, reported that Zelensky had no plans to make such an announcement on February 24. A source close to the presidency was blunt in the denial, telling Ukrinform that holding elections while Russians kill people daily was not a serious proposition Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

The Practical Obstacles

Ukraine's elections have been effectively suspended since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, with martial law making a nationwide vote legally and logistically impossible. Zelensky, elected in 2019 for a five-year term, has seen his mandate expire on paper — a fact Russia has repeatedly exploited to question his legitimacy Ukraine will hold elections after a ceasefire is in place, Zelensky saysfrance24.com·SecondaryPresidential elections in Ukraine will only happen once a ceasefire has been reached with Russia and Kyiv has received the security guarantees it needs, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday, rejecting a report suggesting he was considering calling Ukrainians to the ballots within the next three months..

Beyond the legal framework, the practical barriers to holding elections remain formidable. Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced internally or forced abroad as refugees. Hundreds of thousands more are living under Russian occupation or serving at the front. Conducting a campaign and vote under ongoing missile and drone strikes presents security challenges that no election monitoring body has experience managing Ukraine will hold elections after a ceasefire is in place, Zelensky saysfrance24.com·SecondaryPresidential elections in Ukraine will only happen once a ceasefire has been reached with Russia and Kyiv has received the security guarantees it needs, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday, rejecting a report suggesting he was considering calling Ukrainians to the ballots within the next three months..

A source familiar with the discussions told Reuters that Zelensky could not set elections in motion without first agreeing on the terms of a peace deal with Russia. Kyiv also wants a ceasefire to remain in place throughout any election campaign period — a demand that speaks to the profound distrust of Moscow's commitments Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

US Pressure and the June Deadline

The election question is inseparable from the broader diplomatic pressure campaign. Zelensky has previously stated that Washington wants the war ended by June, after which the Trump administration plans to shift its focus to the November congressional elections Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia.... The urgency from Washington has been a persistent undercurrent in the peace negotiations.

Three rounds of trilateral talks — involving the US, Ukraine, and Russia — have taken place in Abu Dhabi over the past month without a breakthrough. Reuters reported that US officials have proposed a next meeting in Miami for Monday and Tuesday, though Russia has not confirmed attendance Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia.... The Kremlin said on Tuesday there was no firm date set but that negotiations were "likely to happen soon."

Zelensky, for his part, called on Washington to exert more pressure on Moscow. "It depends not only on Ukraine, but also on America, which must exert pressure — excuse me for saying so, but there is no other way — it must exert pressure on Russia," he said regarding the prospects for a summer deal Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

The EU Steps In With Financial Support

As the diplomatic maneuvering continues, the European Parliament on Wednesday approved a landmark 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine, providing a financial lifeline as the country approaches the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

Lawmakers voted 458 to 140 in favor of the package, which is designed to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs for 2026 and 2027. Of the total, 60 billion euros is earmarked for weapons purchases, with the remainder allocated to general budget support Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

The loan is backed by the EU's common budget after plans to use frozen Russian central bank assets were abandoned. In a notable provision, the EU has stated that Ukraine will only need to repay the funds once Moscow compensates Kyiv for war damages, with Brussels covering the annual interest costs through its budget Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, European military aid to Ukraine in 2025 was 67 percent higher than the three-year average when adjusted for inflation. However, total support still fell because the United States largely withdrew as a significant donor, leaving the EU to shoulder nearly 90 percent of financial and humanitarian assistance — amounting to 35.1 billion euros Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

Moscow's Shadow Over the Process

Russia's ongoing attacks provide the starkest argument against rushing to elections. On Wednesday alone, a Russian strike killed four people, including three children aged one and two, in the town of Bohodukhiv in Ukraine's Kharkiv region . The previous day, strikes on Sloviansk killed an 11-year-old girl and her mother, wounding 16 others Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

Zelensky referenced these attacks directly in making his case. "As long as Russia continues to kill people and destroy our infrastructure, there will not be sufficient public trust even in active diplomacy," he wrote on the social media platform X Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

Energy infrastructure remains under relentless assault, with outages reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, and parts of Odesa amid freezing nighttime temperatures. Zelensky warned that local officials would be held personally responsible for failures in managing the aftermath of strikes Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy says ceasefire must precede votedw.com·SecondaryPresident Zelenskyy said elections could only come after a ceasefire and security guarantees were in place This followed a Financial Times report saying Zelenskyy could announce election plans on February 24 Ukrainian officials said two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl were killed in a Russian attack, along with a 34-year-old man Britain to double its troops in Norway to bolster Arctic security against Russia Germany presses Central Asian countries on enforcing Russia....

The tension between Western pressure for a swift resolution and the daily reality of war on Ukrainian soil defines the current moment. Polling shows little appetite among the Ukrainian public for elections during active hostilities Ukraine will hold elections after a ceasefire is in place, Zelensky saysfrance24.com·SecondaryPresidential elections in Ukraine will only happen once a ceasefire has been reached with Russia and Kyiv has received the security guarantees it needs, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday, rejecting a report suggesting he was considering calling Ukrainians to the ballots within the next three months.. Yet the diplomatic clock is ticking, and the space for Zelensky to resist the pull toward negotiations — and the elections that would likely accompany any deal — continues to narrow.