Statement by the European Solidarity faction
Today, at the Christmas table, many Ukrainian families are waiting for their loved ones back from the war. They are waiting for the phone call, the footsteps in the hallway, the sound of a living voice. And in every home, they are wishing for peace. Not an abstract peace, not a future peace, but one that stops the losses now.
This is precisely why the topic of the “20-point plan” presented by the President requires an honest conversation on its merits, and it is good that it is beginning.
The sequence of implementation of the plan, once it is finally agreed upon, in our opinion, should be as follows.
First, a ceasefire . Ukraine must stop losing people. This is not the final chord of the peace plan, but its first point. Without it, any peace architecture remains a declaration. Achieving a ceasefire is the art of diplomacy.
Secondly, the next step after the ceasefire must be the lifting of martial law , or its discontinuation. When Ukrainians abroad are able to return home, soldiers begin returning home from the front, the telethon is closed, the SBU and the Office stop censoring the largest Telegram channels with millions of subscribers, and freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom to criticize the government are restored. Then, the conditions for free and democratic elections will be established. Only such a course of action can ensure an electoral process in line with OSCE standards, with equal opportunities, free campaigning, and the genuine expression of the will of citizens . And most importantly, with the participation of the military , who have most deserved the opportunity to run and be adequately represented on the country’s political map.
Third, the Agreement must be signed by the President, and certain clauses must be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada for ratification . We would like to remind you that a referendum on territorial changes in Ukraine is impossible, both legally and morally. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state are not subject to negotiation .
Today, our thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones due to the aggressive war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. This pain has no statute of limitations. Russia must bear full responsibility for its crimes against the Ukrainian people —political, legal, and historical. And pay reparations .
Peace is only possible when it begins with the protection of human life, is based on law, and ends with justice. This is the path we believe is the only right one for Ukraine.
But we once again emphasize the categorical unacceptability of any elections during martial law , because such elections, which do not meet European standards, will not strengthen, but rather weaken, the legitimacy of the government.
We can’t fight Russia tooth and nail while simultaneously borrowing their dirty election-rigging techniques. Therefore, we’re not simply against remote electronic voting —we will fight this technology with every means at our disposal.
We wish all Ukrainians a Merry Christmas and believe that 2026 will be a year of just peace for us. Our political force will work diligently towards this goal and promote all rational steps in this direction.
As a reminder, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented details of a 20-point draft framework document on ending the war between Ukraine, the United States, Russia, and the European Union.