Zelensky says Ukraine can hold a referendum on the peace plan. Under what conditions?

Zelensky said that the most difficult point of the peace agreement is the territorial issues. The draft document states that in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, the line of contact is fixed at the location of the troops as of the date of the agreement conclusion. That is, “we stand where we stand.”

​Russia also must withdraw its troops from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions for the agreement to take effect.

Meanwhile, Russia wants Ukraine to leave the Donetsk region. The US is offering a compromise — to create a free economic zone in Donbas. This issue will have to be decided by referendum.

“That is, if we are discussing this, it must be a special format, a special decision, and therefore a referendum. Only a referendum can determine whether people agree to this path, if this is the proposal for Ukraine — either this or war,” Zelensky added.

The president also said that US representatives want a referendum to be held. Zelensky explained to them that such a referendum would have to cover the entire document, not just individual issues.

“We can hold a referendum voting on a full agreement that will end the war. A referendum requires at least 60 days. And we need a real ceasefire for 60 days. Otherwise, we will not hold it. That is, the referendum will not be legitimate,” he added.

​If a free economic zone is created, international forces will monitor it. The creation of such a zone must also be approved by the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament). Therefore, in addition to the referendum, the adoption of a separate law will be required.