As US Pressure Mounts for Ukraine Elections, Kyiv Sanctions Ex-President

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s five-year term in office officially ended almost one year ago, raising questions about his political legitimacy.

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko gestures while speaking to his supporters upon his arrival at Zhuliany International Airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 17, 2022. Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo

Kyiv has imposed sanctions on Petro Poroshenko, an opposition politician and former president, for reasons of “national security,” according to Ukraine’s SBU spy agency.

The move follows calls by Washington for Ukraine to hold presidential elections—in which Poroshenko could be a contender—after an almost six-year hiatus.