Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 26 December that some questions in the US-brokered peace plan are too sensitive for any single person — including himself — to answer, and must be decided by Ukrainian citizens through a referendum.
Speaking at an online press conference ahead of his weekend meeting with US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy emphasized that the push to activate the election issue "came from the American side." He set security as the non-negotiable precondition: Western partners must either compel Russia or negotiate with Moscow to guarantee safe conditions before any vote can occur.
Which peace plan provisions would require a referendum?The 20-point framework unveiled by Zelenskyy this week contains at least three elements that could trigger a nationwide referendum:
1. Territorial arrangements in the east
Point 14 of the plan addresses the fate of Ukraine's partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. One option under discussion would create a "free economic zone" or demilitarized buffer where Ukrainian forces would withdraw from territory they currently control — including cities like Kramatorsk and Sloviansk that Russia has failed to capture in 11 years of war.
Zelenskyy has been explicit: this cannot happen without popular consent. "Only a referendum can determine whether people agree to such a path," he told journalists on 24 December. Point 14.2 of the plan states that establishing such a zone "will require special approval by the Ukrainian parliament or a referendum."
2. The peace agreement itself
Beyond specific territorial provisions, Zelenskyy indicated the entire peace framework may require direct democratic validation. "Ukraine will submit this agreement to parliament for ratification and/or hold a nationwide referendum for approval in a 'yes' or 'no' format," he told journalists, according to RFE/RL.
The logic is straightforward. After nearly four years of war and hundreds of thousands of casualties, no politician — not even a wartime president — possesses the mandate to unilaterally accept terms that lock in territorial losses or constrain Ukraine's sovereignty.
3. NATO membership remains constitutionally open
While the revised 20-point plan removed the original requirement for Ukraine to constitutionally ban NATO membership, the question of joining the alliance remains politically fraught. Zelenskyy noted that "it's the choice of NATO members whether to have Ukraine or not. Our choice has been made."
Should future negotiations attempt to permanently close NATO's door — a key Russian demand — any constitutional amendment restricting Ukraine's defense options would require a referendum under Ukrainian law.
Why Zelenskyy demands security guarantees before any voteZelenskyy's 26 December remarks establish a clear sequencing: security guarantees must precede any democratic exercise.
"Our partners have sufficient power either to compel Russia or to negotiate with the Russians to provide proper security — a safe infrastructure for holding presidential elections in Ukraine or for conducting a referendum," he said.
This echoes his earlier statements that a legitimate referendum requires at least 60 days of genuine ceasefire. "A referendum requires at least 60 days. And we need a real ceasefire for 60 days; otherwise, we cannot hold it," he told journalists last Tuesday, adding that people in Russian-controlled territory cannot vote fairly.
The election question has become entangled with referendum discussions. Ukraine's constitution prohibits elections during martial law, and Zelenskyy's parliament formed a working group on 22 December to explore legislative changes that could enable wartime voting — a direct response to Trump's repeated demands.
Zelenskyy indicated elections and a referendum on the peace agreement could be held simultaneously after an agreement is signed.
Why wartime voting remains difficultBy committing to democratic ratification, Zelenskyy deflects American pressure while signaling that Ukrainians retain final say over their nation's fate.
But wartime voting carries practical obstacles:
- More than 800,000 troops cannot leave front-line positions to vote
- Millions of Ukrainians are displaced abroad or internally
- 20% of Ukraine remains under Russian occupation where no legitimate vote could occur
- A December poll found 57% of Ukrainians believe elections are possible only after a final peace agreement
The next step comes this weekend, when Zelenskyy meets Trump in Florida.
Read also:
No comments yet.