Why Any Peace Deal with Russia Requires a National Ukrainian Referendum.

The Case for a National Referendum

According to Novyny.live: Svitlana Osaulenko, a deputy of the Odesa City Council, has argued that any peace agreement concerning Ukraine's territorial integrity must be legitimized through a nationwide referendum. She stressed that without such a public vote, any negotiations, questions, or the signing of peace deals could be deemed illegitimate. This stance highlights the deep public demand for direct involvement in decisions that will shape the nation's future.

Without a nationwide referendum, I consider any questions, negotiations, or signing of any peace agreements regarding territories to be unlawful. - Svitlana Osaulenko

Amid widespread public fatigue with established political figures, Osaulenko also emphasized the importance of holding elections to renew the government. She stated that citizens must be given the opportunity to place their trust in new individuals and parliamentarians who can manage complex state-level processes.

People must give their trust to one person or another, to these or other parliamentarians, in order to resolve these extremely complex processes for the entire state. - Svitlana Osaulenko

Constitutional Foundations and Elections

According to Article 73 of the Constitution of Ukraine, any changes to the state's territory can only be approved via a nationwide referendum. Concurrently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has noted that holding elections would require at least a two-month ceasefire from Russia. In this context, a draft law on post-war elections is two-thirds complete and is expected to be finalized, likely in April.

Therefore, the issues of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the need for political renewal, and public weariness with old politicians remain central to discussions about the country's future. Holding a referendum could be a crucial step in strengthening the legitimacy of state policy, while elections might offer citizens a chance to choose new leaders capable of navigating the immense challenges Ukraine faces during the war and in the subsequent reconstruction period.