Has the date of presidential elections in Ukraine been announced?

The Ukrainian government is considering the scenario of lifting martial law in January and holding presidential elections in May 2025. Valery Zaluzhny, former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, may be the main and serious opponent of Zelensky in the election.

Kiev is seriously considering a scenario in which the ceasefire and martial law could be lifted to coincide with the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. In this case, presidential elections in Ukraine are expected to be held in May 2025. This is reported by The Economist newspaper, citing sources in the Ukrainian government.

According to the interlocutors of the publication, official preparations for the elections have not yet been made, and the Office of the President of Ukraine denies that such actions are ongoing. But The Economist points to signs to the contrary: regional headquarters are being formed and shortlists are being drawn up. The paper's political sources suggest that the Ukrainian elite believes that elections are necessary, but opposition representatives are afraid to speak out because of the harsh attitude of Volodymyr Zelenskyi's administration.

According to The Economist, closed-door government polls show that if elections are held in the coming days, Zelenskiy will most likely lose to his potential challenger, Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK and former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. .

Zaluzhny himself has never directly expressed his political ambitions, but calls for his participation in the elections are growing in Ukrainian society. Zelensky, sources said, could strengthen his position by stepping down as president while maintaining his reputation as a wartime leader who united the country. However, the decision raises the risk that Zelensky could be associated with the negative consequences of war if the development of the conflict does not bring success to Ukraine.

Donald Trump's rise to power is causing concern in Kiev. Ukraine's leadership is concerned that a deal may be unacceptable under the new US president's terms, as his proposed plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war would exclude Ukraine from NATO membership and leave Russian control of 18 percent of Ukraine's territory.