Zelensky is urgently preparing for elections after the ceasefire, - The Economist.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing for elections, although he previously dismissed this possibility. Zelensky has instructed his team to begin preparations for the electoral process.

The condition for the elections is a ceasefire, which the U.S. predicts by the end of April. An official announcement may come in early May. The law requires a minimum of 60 days for an election campaign, so voting could take place in the summer or autumn. Zelensky wants to hold the vote as soon as possible to prevent competitors from mobilizing voters.

The main opposition candidate, Petro Poroshenko, claims that elections may occur in the summer or autumn. He believes that the authorities are trying to eliminate him and hinder the participation of former commander of the Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who has a strong chance of victory. Zelensky aims to catch his opponents off guard, so the option of elections in July is still being considered.

However, holding elections during wartime will be challenging. There are issues with logistics and updating voter lists. One possible alternative is voting through the mobile application 'Diia', but this raises questions about the transparency of the electoral process. Amendments to the Constitution are needed to change electoral mechanisms, which may not be supported by parliament.

The Kremlin and Washington are closely monitoring the situation. Following the diplomatic scandal with Trump, the elections may only strengthen Zelensky's position. Russia could use the pre-election period for informational attacks. Its rockets and drones could also make it impossible to lift martial law.

Ukraine faces a difficult choice - to risk elections during wartime or postpone them, increasing political tension. Zelensky wants to maintain power, while his opponents are preparing for a fight. But the main question is whether Ukraine can hold elections in a way that does not again strike at its stability.