Kremlin responds to media reports on Zelenskyy's supposed plan 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 about the elections and referendum in Ukraine, Peskov said it was "too early to talk about it".

"We actually see such messages being exchanged in the press by some 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 Ukrainian President – ed.], said this was not true and refuted this report," he said.

However, 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 on 24 February, alongside a referendum on a peace agreement with Russia.
• The Office of the President has not officially responded to this report yet.
• Ukrainska Pravda has asked the Office of the President to comment and will publish it as soon as it is received.
• Recent polls show that most Ukrainians oppose elections being held before the end of hostilities.
• The majority of Ukrainians also reject proposals of the entire Donbas region being 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 agreement to end the war with Russia, while 32% are against it. Meanwhile, the Civil Network OPORA, a Ukrainian think tank, reiterated that the current law prohibits referendums during martial law, as it is impossible under such conditions to ensure the participation of millions of Ukrainians abroad, as well as military personnel, to mitigate all security threats and disinformation campaigns, and to fully restore the damaged electoral infrastructure. Even if the hostilities were to cease, preparing for such a referendum would require considerable time and complex reforms.

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