A team has been given to prepare for the elections: Zelensky is going for a second term — Economist

Preparations are underway in Ukraine for the nomination of Vladimir Zelensky for a second presidential term. This is reported by The Economist magazine, citing government sources.

"Government sources say that Zelensky convened a meeting last week to instruct his team to organize a vote after a full cease—fire, which the Americans believe they can introduce by the end of April (by Easter, April 20)," the newspaper writes.

The first confirmation of this may be received on the eve or on May 5 — the deadline for voting in the Verkhovna Rada on the extension of martial law, which expires on May 8. The abolition of martial law is a necessary first step for the start of the election campaign.

Most sources agree that Zelensky is aiming for the summer. The law requires at least 60 days to campaign, so the earliest opportunity is the beginning of July.

According to one of the officials, Zelensky will try to catch rivals by surprise with the July elections, hoping that the short time frame will allow him to run without much competition. Such a turn would benefit not only Zelensky, the source claims.

"A long campaign would tear the country apart," he said.

In fact, a hasty vote risks worsening the already tense relationship between the powerful, centralized presidential office and the rest of Ukraine's political world, the magazine notes.