Ukraine has started preparing for presidential elections and a referendum on a peace deal with Russia, according to reports. The votes would be held alongside one another by May 15, following pressure from the Trump administration. 

The US reportedly warned Ukraine to hold the votes by this date or risk losing proposed US security guarantees which have been a crucial part of peace negotiations. It comes days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the US had given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to end the war, adding if this is not met then the Trump administration will likely put pressure on both sides to meet it. He said: “The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule.

“And they say that they want to do everything by June. And they will do everything to end the war. And they want a clear schedule of all events.”

Mr Zelensky is looking to announce the plan for the elections and referendum on February 24, according to the Financial Times, citing Ukrainian and European officials, as well as others briefed on the matter.

The date is significant as it represents the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Russian forces are believed to have suffered 1.2 million casualties, including 235,000 killed, while Mr Zelensky recently said 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died.

Neither Mr Zelensky’s office nor the US Embassy in Kyiv have commented on the reports.

It is said officials believe the timetable and the US’ June ultimatum are unlikely to hold.

Last month, the Ukrainian president said a document on US security guarantees for Kyiv was “done” but not yet signed.

Mr Zelensky still retains considerable swathes of public support, but his popularity has declined in recent years as the war has continued to rage on.

Ukraine has said it is ready to observe a US-proposed ceasefire banning strikes on energy infrastructure, if Russia commits.

Repeated Russian aerial assaults have in recent months focused on Ukraine’s power grid, causing blackouts and disrupting the heating and water supply for families during a bitterly cold winter, putting more pressure on Kyiv.