20-point peace plan must be approved by referendum, Zelenskyy says
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine considers it necessary to secure the key 20-point plan to end the war through a nationwide referendum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in response to journalists' questions.
No alternative to peace
According to the president, the positions of Ukraine and the United States are aligned — the war must be ended through diplomatic means by forcing Russia to make peace.
"There is no alternative to peace. We believe, together with the Americans, that our position here is the same — the war must be ended diplomatically. To pressure Russia," Zelenskyy said.
He added that if Russia refuses to agree to a deal, the United States, together with European partners, will continue to support Ukraine.
Ceasefire is a key condition for referendum
The president noted that Russia has a negative attitude toward the idea of a referendum, as holding one requires real security and a ceasefire. According to the Ukrainian side, organizing a referendum would require at least 60 days of complete silence.
"A referendum requires security and security infrastructure. Russia does not want to give us a ceasefire for as many days as are needed to hold a referendum," Zelenskyy explained.
Why paper guarantees failed
Zelenskyy recalled that previous international agreements did not ensure Ukraine's security.
"There was the Budapest Memorandum — it did not work. There were the Minsk agreements — they led to a full-scale war," the president said.
That is why, he added, new guarantees must have real force. He also noted that Ukraine has reached agreements with the United States on security guarantees that the US Congress and the Ukrainian parliament must support.
Bilateral agreements with European countries within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing are also planned to be ratified by the parliaments of partner states.
Why the 20-point plan is proposed for a referendum
The president emphasized that it is precisely the expression of the people's will that can give the peace agreements maximum legitimacy.
"We believe that the 20-point plan should be secured through a referendum. This is the strongest historical signature of the power of this document," Zelenskyy said.
He acknowledged that not everyone views this idea positively, as a referendum means an open decision by millions of citizens rather than individual politicians.
Trump–Zelenskyy meeting
On December 28, the presidents of Ukraine and the United States, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, held an almost two-hour meeting at Trump's residence in Florida, during which they discussed disputed aspects of the American peace plan for Ukraine.
After the talks, both leaders addressed the press and outlined the progress made.
Trump reported some progress on the Donbas issue, adding that a final decision has not yet been made but that the sides have moved closer to an agreement. He also announced the creation of a special working group on peace settlement, which will work with senior US officials and interact with the Russian side.
Zelenskyy noted that the peace plan is 90% agreed, while security guarantees from the United States are 100% agreed. According to media reports, Trump is ready to approve these guarantees through the US Congress, and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed progress on contributions from Coalition of the Willing countries to Ukraine's security.
What Zelenskyy and Trump discussed at the meeting and whether an agreement was reached on sensitive issues can be read in the RBC-Ukraine article.
