By SCM REPORTER
DONALD TRUMP is piling the “maximum pressure” on Volodymyr Zelensky to end the war with Russia by May 15—sparking a high-stakes dash for a peace deal and a national vote.
The US President has reportedly handed Kyiv a strict deadline to hold both a presidential election and a historic referendum on a proposed peace plan.
Sources close to the negotiations say Zelensky is now preparing to make a “momentous” announcement on February 24—the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion—confirming that Ukraine will head to the polls.
According to the Financial Times, the Trump administration wants the conflict “off the plate” before the US shifts its focus to the crucial midterm elections in November.
Insiders claim the White House is pushing for:
A May 15 Deadline: For Ukraine to ratify a peace deal via a national referendum.
New Elections: To be held simultaneously, potentially ending Zelensky’s wartime leadership or giving him a fresh mandate.
A ‘90% Ready’ Deal: Trump recently boasted at Mar-a-Lago that the framework for a 20-point peace plan is nearly finished.
A senior source said: “The message from Washington is clear: the blank cheque is over. They want a schedule, they want a vote, and they want it done by the start of summer.”
Zelensky’s Gamble
For years, Zelensky has resisted holding elections while the country is under martial law. However, his tone shifted sharply this week.
Speaking to reporters, the Ukrainian leader hinted at the American pressure, saying: “They [the US] want to get everything done by June. The elections are, for them, definitely more important. Let’s not be naive.”
The proposed referendum would likely ask Ukrainians to vote on “thorny” issues, including territorial concessions in the Donbas and a commitment to stay out of NATO in exchange for security guarantees.
The sudden rush for a settlement comes as Donald Trump celebrates one year back in the White House.
During his campaign, Trump famously promised to end the war “in 24 hours.”
While that didn’t happen, his administration has spent the last year brokering secret talks in Abu Dhabi and Miami.
However, the plan remains a “hard sell” in Kyiv. Recent polls suggest that while 55% of Ukrainians support a referendum to end the fighting, a majority still refuse to officially cede land to Vladimir Putin.
If Zelensky pulls the trigger on February 24, it will be the biggest political gamble of his life—and the beginning of the end for the bloodiest conflict in Europe since WWII.
