Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky and his office denied reports he would announce preparations for a spring presidential vote and a peace‑deal referendum on Feb. 24, stressing that security conditions, not dates, will determine any decision.
- Ukrainian law bars national elections and referendums under martial law, and experts cite major logistical hurdles, including displaced voters, deployed troops, and occupied territory.
- A new round of U.S.-brokered negotiations between Ukraine and Russia is scheduled for Feb. 17–18 in Geneva, with Ukraine’s presidential office confirming the time and venue as the Kremlin said a meeting next week had been agreed.
- Reporting by outlets including the Financial Times and the New York Times says U.S. officials have pressed Kyiv to hold votes by mid‑May and warned security guarantees could be at risk, a linkage Ukraine has not confirmed publicly.
- Recent Russian strikes, including a drone attack in Bogodukhiv that killed three children and their father, underscore the security environment Zelensky cites in ruling out near‑term nationwide voting.