Ukraine has begun planning for presidential elections and a referendum concerning a peace treaty with Russia. This move follows pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has reportedly demanded Kyiv to conduct the voting by May 15 or risk losing security guarantees. The White House is exerting intense pressure on Kyiv to finalize peace discussions between Ukraine and Russia by this spring. The potential for elections represents a significant political shift for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

President Zelensky has expressed previously that conducting elections is inconceivable while the country remains under martial law, with millions of Ukrainians displaced and approximately 20% of the nation's territory occupied by Russia. Despite this, Zelensky is expected to announce plans for the elections and the referendum on February 24, marking four years since the full-scale invasion by Russia began. Such a timeline would be a dramatic political pivot in the ongoing conflict and may influence Ukraine's approach to negotiations regarding peace.

The urgency behind the planned elections points to not only domestic political circumstances but also the broader implications of international relations, particularly with the United States. As the situation evolves, Zelensky's administration will need to navigate both internal pressures for political stability and external demands for peace negotiations, potentially reshaping the future of Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.