Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to hold presidential elections in spring, along with a possible vote on a peace treaty that could end the war with Russia.
Unnamed Ukrainian and Western officials told the Financial Times.
The officials told the Financial Times that the US government is pushing to conclude peace talks between Ukraine and Russia this spring.
According to the sources, President Donald Trump's administration is demanding that presidential elections and a referendum on a peace treaty be held in Ukraine by May 15.
If this does not happen, Ukraine risks losing US security guarantees, it says.
Zelensky's staff did not respond to a request for comment, the outlet reports.
Volodymyr Zelensky recently confirmed that the United States wants a deal in the coming months.
- They say they want it all sorted out by June. So the war is over, Zelensky said, according to the Financial Times on Friday last week.
- And they want a clear timetable, the president added.
The Ukrainian president said on the same occasion that the White House wants to turn its focus to the US midterm elections in November.
Zelensky will announce the plan for a presidential election and a referendum on February 24, according to Ukrainian and European officials involved in the planning.
February 24 is the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky has been president of Ukraine since May 20, 2019, when he won with 73 percent of the vote.
He remains in office, although his term officially ends in May 2024. This is because martial law was imposed in 2022 due to the Russian invasion.
According to the Ukrainian constitution, it is forbidden to hold elections when martial law is imposed.
Last week, delegations from Russia and Ukraine participated in two days of talks with the United States in the United Arab Emirates on an end to the war.
They have not yet been able to reach an agreement. The parties have previously stated that they have different views on the issue of dividing up territory.
/ritzau/
