FT: are pushing toward elections and a referendum by May 15 – but security and the law cast the deadlines into doubt

The Financial Times reports that, amid pressure from the administration of the U.S. president, Ukraine has begun discussing preparations for a presidential election and a referendum on a peace agreement with Russia, with a target date of no later than May 15, 2026.

At the same time, even FT’s own sources acknowledge that the scenario depends on too many factors and is “unlikely to be feasible” within the stated timeframe.

According to the report, Zelenskyy may announce the plans on February 24, a date that is symbolic for the country as the start of the full-scale war. The idea is already drawing public criticism: Olha Aivazovska, head of the OPORA civic network, calls tying it to the war anniversary a sign of misunderstanding the public mood and stresses that, by standard logic, elections are possible only after martial law is lifted—and with a minimum buffer period of six months.

FT claims that the White House is pushing Kyiv toward an accelerated political cycle because it wants to wrap up the negotiation track as early as this spring; otherwise, it may reconsider the issue of security guarantees. But inside Ukraine, as the article suggests, the key limiting factor remains security: the President’s Office says that without it there “will be no announcements about elections.”

Even if the Verkhovna Rada quickly amends the laws in March–April, the practical implementation of voting runs into obvious constraints: the front line, refugees abroad, occupied territories, and a high risk of disruptions. According to Aivazovska, without a ceasefire Russia would retain the ability to attack polling stations and infrastructure, which calls into question the very idea of “fast elections.”