Zelensky about February 24 as the date of announcing the elections: this is the first I've heard of it

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that for the first time he heard that February 24 was to be announced as the date of the presidential elections. He assured that his country will be ready for them when security is ensured and fighting in the war with Russia is suspended.

– Regarding the elections or their announcement on February 24: this is the first time I've heard of it. I first heard about it from the Financial Times. (…) I have said many times about the elections: we will go to the elections when all the appropriate security guarantees are in place, he said, answering journalists' questions in the chat.

Zelensky noted that the issue of elections is always raised by Ukraine's foreign partners, while Ukraine itself does not talk about them in the current conditions. – However, without a doubt, we are ready for the elections. As I said, bring about a ceasefire and there will be elections. This is a security matter, he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Financial Times reported that Zelensky intends to announce a plan for presidential elections and a referendum on the peace agreement on February 24, the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Russian invasion.

“FT” emphasized that American President Donald Trump threatened Zelensky with withdrawing security guarantees for Ukraine if the elections and referendum are not held by May 15. Last week, Zelensky told journalists that the US authorities propose that Ukraine and Russia end the war at the beginning of this summer and will most likely apply pressure in line with this schedule.

On Wednesday, Zelensky assured journalists that the US was not threatening Ukraine with a refusal to provide security guarantees.

The President of Ukraine was asked whether Russia confirmed the US proposal to conclude an energy truce with Ukraine. The idea is to prevent both countries from attacking each other's important facilities, including: power plants and heating plants.

– We have not received a response from the Russians, although no – we have received a response in the form of drones and missile attacks. This proves that they (Russians) are not ready for such a truce. For now (they are not ready), he emphasized.

The president expressed his belief that Europe should participate in the peace talks. – America and Europe should act together. Only with Ukraine. (…) Fighting with Russia, each one individually, when America talks to Russia separately and Europe talks separately – I believe that only Russia will win from this – he said.

Zelensky repeated that he did not see the possibility of his country's delegation coming to Moscow for direct talks with Vladimir Putin, who rules in the Kremlin.

– I heard publicly several times how the Russian side invited people (to talks in Moscow), and it seems that they invited me personally and I reacted to it. We are defending our country and Russia attacked us. And they are the aggressor. I cannot come to negotiations with Putin in Moscow, the capital of the country that is the aggressor in this war, he announced.

However, the President of Ukraine assured that he is ready for talks in any country, except Russia and Belarus, which is an ally of the Kremlin in the war against his country.

From Kiev Jarosław Junko (PAP)

jjk/ zm/