Zelensky Insists Territorial Concessions to Russia Require Nationwide Referendum
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that any decision to cede territory to Russia or withdraw from the Donbas region must be made through a nationwide referendum with the vote of the Ukrainian people. Zelensky made this stance amid efforts to end the war with Russia.
In an interview with the American website Axios, Zelensky expressed hope that in his scheduled meeting on Sunday with U.S. President Donald Trump, they would agree on a timed framework to end the war. He added that the goal of this meeting is to establish a clear path to conclude the conflict at the highest political level.
Zelensky also stated that if Russia agrees to at least a 60-day ceasefire, Ukraine is prepared to put its peace plan to a referendum. According to him, although Kyiv strives to achieve a better position regarding territorial disputes, in the event of needing to make “very difficult” decisions, turning to the people’s vote would be the best option.
Furthermore, Zelensky stressed that the referendum could cover the entire 20-point peace plan, not just a specific part. He said Ukraine wants the war to end as soon as possible and therefore considers dialogue at the level of presidents essential.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump expressed optimism in an interview with the New York Post that the Ukrainian peace talks would succeed. The U.S. president said that despite the difficulty of the issue, it is possible to end the war.
On December 24, 2025, Zelensky announced his 20-point peace plan with Russia, which emphasized no withdrawal from Donbas and preserving Ukraine’s military capabilities. In contrast, Sergey Ryabkov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that this plan significantly differs from Moscow’s 27-point proposal presented in talks with the American side.
