Elections in Ukraine would only be organized after "a ceasefire" with Russia and the obtaining of "security guarantees", Volodymyr Zelensky assured Wednesday. The Ukrainian president was responding to press reports suggesting an imminent presidential election and referendum planned by kyiv.

Published on: 02/11/2026 - 7:59 p.m.

A wartime vote? President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on Wednesday February 11 that Ukraine would only hold elections after a ceasefire with Moscow and the obtaining of "security guarantees", reacting to information claiming that kyiv was soon considering a presidential election and a referendum.

“We will move on to elections when all the necessary security guarantees are in place,” Volodymyr Zelensky said during an online press conference. "It's very easy to do: establish a ceasefire and there will be elections," he added.

Citing anonymous sources, the Financial Times wrote on Wednesday that Ukraine, under American pressure, was considering holding a presidential vote and a referendum on a peace plan by mid-May.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the Kremlin and, more recently, the White House have argued that kyiv must hold elections as part of a peace deal.

Moscow appears to be hoping to get rid of President Volodymyr Zelensky, who refuses to give in to its demands, after failing to overthrow him at the start of the war.

Donald Trump wants to end the war as soon as possible and has demanded elections in Ukraine as part of a 20-point peace plan he wants kyiv and Moscow to accept.

The American president, a major but unpredictable ally of Ukraine, also accused the Ukrainian authorities in December of using the war to avoid organizing elections.

With AFP

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