How can you even begin to hold a fair election when about 20% of your nation is occupied by a foreign power?
On the other hand, Trump can always move the goalpost ("Election not held in eastern Oblasts == Sham elections") or even reinforce the view that the eastern oblasts are de facto not part of the Ukrainian state anymore.
Also Zelensky's popularity has shot up since Trump started aligning with Russia. And the next most likely president is probably even more hawkish towards Russia.