Referendum on peace: Zelensky explained when it is possible
Фото: ОП
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that if the issue of territories cannot be agreed upon during negotiations, the entire peace plan may be put to a referendum.
He told reporters about this, commenting on the draft document on the end of the war.
Zelensky stressed that the issue of territories is the most difficult in terms of peace. The draft states that in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, the contact line is fixed at the location of the troops on the date of the agreement — that is, “we stand where we stand.”
At the same time, Russia must withdraw troops from Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions for the agreement to enter into force.
Russia proposes that Ukraine leave the Donetsk region, and the US compromise is the creation of a potential free economic zone.
“We believe that a free economic zone is a potential opportunity for a sovereign state to choose such a path. We fought for one word – ‘potential’. We believe that a state can have such potential as economic zones,” Zelensky explained.
If it is not possible to agree on a “stand where we stand” format, there are two options: continuing the war or deciding on potential economic zones.
In the event of a discussion of a potential free economic zone in Donbas, the decision should be made by citizens in a referendum.
“If this is the case, then it is a special format, and therefore a special decision, and therefore a referendum – only a referendum can determine whether people agree to such a path, if the proposal for Ukraine is exactly this – either this or war,” Zelensky emphasized.
He added that the US insists on a referendum, and emphasized that the entire document should be put to a vote, not individual issues.
“We can go to a referendum with a full agreement that will secure the end of the war. A referendum needs at least 60 days. And we need a real ceasefire for 60 days. Otherwise, we won’t hold it. That is, the referendum will not be legitimate,” the president said.
Zelensky also explained that if a free economic zone is created, its activities will be controlled by international forces, and the implementation of the zone will require approval by the Verkhovna Rada by a separate law.
As a reminder, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented details of a 20-point draft basic document on the end of the war between Ukraine, the United States, Russia, and the European Union.
As reported, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the issue of Ukraine’s accession to NATO is the exclusive competence of the Alliance’s member states.
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