Kremlin responds to media reports that Zelenskyy intends to unveil election roadmap

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has commented on a Financial Times report claiming that Volodymyr Zelenskyy intends to unveil a plan for a presidential election and a referendum on a peace deal with Russia on 24 February.

Source: RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency

Details: Commenting on the report, Peskov said it was "too early to talk about it".

"We actually see reports like these being exchanged in the press by certain sources. One source claimed that preparations for the elections have begun, then another source from the administration, from the office of the Kyiv regime [the Office of the President of Ukraine – ed.], said it was not true and refuted that report," he said.

The Kremlin spokesperson said these streams of information should be monitored closely and taken into account. "But you should still be guided by authoritative sources," he said.

Background:

• The Financial Times previously reported, citing sources, that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to announce a plan for presidential elections, alongside a referendum on a peace deal with Russia, on 24 February.
• The Office of the President has not officially responded to this report yet.
• Ukrainska Pravda has contacted the President's Office for comment and will publish it as soon as it is received.
• Recent polls show that most Ukrainians are opposed to elections being held before the end of hostilities.
• The majority of Ukrainians are also categorically opposed to the proposal that the entire Donbas region should be handed over to Russian control in exchange for security guarantees from the US and Europe.
• However, 55% of Ukrainians support a referendum being held on a peace deal to end the war with Russia, while 32% are against it. Meanwhile, the Civil Network OPORA, a Ukrainian think tank, has issued a reminder that the current law prohibits referendums during martial law, as it would be impossible to ensure participation by millions of Ukrainians abroad and by military personnel, to overcome all security threats and disinformation campaigns, and to fully restore the damaged electoral infrastructure. Even if the hostilities were to cease, it would require considerable time and complex reforms to prepare for such a referendum.

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