Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his readiness to propose a peace plan to resolve the Ukraine crisis through a referendum if Russia agrees to a 60-day ceasefire. Zelensky, in a phone interview with Axios, mentioned his willingness to negotiate for a better territorial position but suggested that a challenging decision might lead to the entire 20-point plan being subject to a referendum.
Zelensky emphasized the necessity of a 60-day ceasefire to facilitate the organization and conduct of the referendum due to the significant political, logistical, and security complexities involved. A senior US official informed Axios that while the Russians acknowledge the ceasefire requirement for a referendum, they prefer a shorter timeline.
Ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida, Zelensky expressed hope for reaching a consensus on a crisis resolution framework. He highlighted that most aspects of the US-Ukraine agreements have been finalized and documented in five agreements, with a potential sixth agreement in consideration.
Zelensky advocated for security guarantees lasting beyond 15 years post the restoration of peace in Ukraine, differing from the US administration’s proposed 15-year pact that could be extendable. He mentioned the intention to present these security assurances to both the US and Ukrainian legislatures for approval.
A conference call involving Zelensky, Trump, and a group of European leaders is scheduled to take place to update all parties on the ongoing discussions, as per a Ukrainian official cited in the report.
