Zelensky: Territorial Concessions in Ukraine Must Be Decided by Referendum
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, emphasized that any discussion of ceding parts of Ukraine’s territory in the course of a ceasefire can only be considered if a public referendum is held. He stated that making decisions on this matter without a direct vote from the people is legally and politically impossible.
In an interview with Fox News, Zelensky said that during the years of war, Russia has managed to control about three thousand square kilometers of Ukrainian land annually. However, he noted that Russia has lost nearly 400,000 military personnel in the process.
He added that around 200,000 residents live in the areas under discussion for potential territorial transfer, and the fate of these regions cannot be determined without the people’s input. The Ukrainian president stressed that the public must vote on any peace plan or changes to the country’s territorial status.
Expressing distrust toward the Russian president, Zelensky said that without the support of the United States, victory in the war would be difficult for Ukraine. He also pointed out that, according to current laws, withdrawing from territories is not feasible, which is why they have proposed creating a special economic zone with specific regulations.
