Zelensky on peace with Russia: referendum and elections possible under two conditions.

According to ТСН: The United States has proposed to Ukraine territorial concessions as part of a 'peace plan'. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that such an important decision should be made by society, and one possible option could be a referendum.

Referendum as a creative move

Political analyst Yulia Zabielina considers the idea of a referendum a creative step. It shows that the Ukrainian people do not support the withdrawal of troops from Donbas.

In her opinion, such an approach allows Ukraine to act proactively and avoid conflict with the President of the United States.

Readiness for elections

Zelensky also expressed readiness to hold presidential elections, even during martial law. However, for this, a temporary ceasefire and security guarantees are needed:

‘There should be a ceasefire for two months. Ukraine agrees to elections, but safety must be ensured,’ Zabielina emphasized.

Signal from Russia

Russia rejected the idea of a ceasefire, which has become a signal for the USA.

‘As of now, we have been able to act proactively and demonstrate that it is not the Ukrainian side that is refusing, but the Russian side,’ the expert emphasized.

Obstacles to elections

Zabielina pointed out the need to focus on real actions from the USA, not just statements from Trump. She also noted that recently, the US Congress decided to allocate 800 million dollars for defense assistance to Ukraine in 2026.

Holding elections in Ukraine during wartime remains unlikely. The main obstacles are technical aspects: organizing voting on the front line and for Ukrainians abroad is practically impossible.

Moreover, a significant part of the population opposes elections during wartime and considers it reasonable to postpone them to a safer time, when conditions for voting can guarantee the safety of citizens.

In the current situation, holding elections becomes not only a political but also a technological problem. Despite the authorities' desire to legitimize their actions, Ukrainians need safety and stability for voting to occur without threats to their lives. Constant shelling and a humanitarian crisis make society cautious about the idea of elections during wartime.