“If they want to hold elections, even if they’re not ready to tell me that honestly right now, then hold those elections honestly. Who will recognize them? First and foremost, the Ukrainian people. And you yourselves must recognize that they are legitimate elections,” the president stated in an interview with BBC News.

In that regard, the Ukrainian leader emphasized that if the representatives of the West collectively seek to remove him from the political arena, they will find any means to achieve their goal.

“If they want to get rid of me, I’m sure they’ll come up with some other idea this semester. If they want to get rid of what’s in their way, at least find some legislative way to do it,” Zelenskyy said.

In the middle of this month, the British newspaper Financial Times reported that Ukraine had begun planning presidential elections and a referendum on potential peace agreements with Russia, with the intention of holding both before May 15.

The newspaper indicated at the time that Kiev had taken this step under pressure from the US administration, with the aim of ending the Ukrainian conflict by spring.

The issue of elections gained relevance after Volodymyr Zelensky’s legal term expired on May 20, 2024, casting doubt on the legitimacy of his government.

Presidential elections in Ukraine were scheduled for March 2024, as required by the Constitution, but Zelensky suspended them, citing martial law and the general mobilization decreed in the country due to the military conflict with Russia.

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