Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that any potential compromises in a peace agreement with Russia must have the support of the Ukrainian people. He believes holding a referendum would be a fair way to secure that approval, provided parliament supports the move.
The Ukrainian leader made the remarks in an interview with Fox News.
Asked whether a potential peace agreement would need approval from Ukraineโs parliament and its citizens, Zelensky stressed that decisions about the countryโs future cannot be made by one person alone.
โIf we want to move forward, if we want to make certain compromises, first of all, we have to ask our people. They have stood firm. They have lost loved ones, children, relatives, and homes. You cannot simply sign an agreement and leave it at that,โ the president said.
According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian government may support or reject proposed agreements, but any final decision must reflect the will of the people.
โFirst of all, there is only one nation that must support it โ the Ukrainian people. Because these are our losses. That is why I think it is fair to go to parliament and hold a referendum. But parliament must support the referendum,โ Zelensky explained.
The president also emphasized that Ukrainians must determine their own path to peace, just as they choose their country’s leadership.
At the same time, Zelensky noted that negotiations with Russia, involving international mediation, must take place before any potential agreement can be put to a referendum.
In his view, the best format would be a trilateral meeting involving US President Donald Trump, the Ukrainian president, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He also favors the participation of European partners.
โWe are open to negotiations in any format and on any topic. But please, do not talk about us without us,โ Zelensky stressed.
The president separately addressed the territorial issue. He rejected Moscowโs demands for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from Donbas, arguing that Russia is trying to achieve through diplomatic pressure what it has failed to accomplish on the battlefield.
However, Zelensky indicated that he would accept a ceasefire along the current front line. Asked whether he would agree to freezing the war under conditions that would leave Ukraine in control of more than 75% of its territory, the president answered affirmatively.
โRight now, we have to freeze the situation, and I think this is a real way to end this war. We call it a ceasefire, or stopping the killing, as President Trump called it. Freeze and stop,โ he said.
Zelensky emphasized that any ceasefire must be accompanied by reliable security guarantees from the United States and European partners to prevent Russia from launching another invasion.
During the interview, the president also confirmed that the United States had resumed providing Ukraine with intelligence, including early warnings of Russian ballistic missile attacks.
However, restrictions on Starlink and Starshield remain in place. According to Zelensky, reduced connection speeds have significantly hampered the operation of Ukrainian interceptor drones used to protect civilians from Russian attacks.
The president said he had discussed the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who promised to work toward resolving it.
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Zelensky also expressed hope that talks between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin would produce results. Among the possible initial steps toward de-escalation, he mentioned halting attacks on energy infrastructure and reaching agreements on security in the Black Sea.
Discussing Ukraineโs future after the war, the president stressed the need to rebuild the country and create conditions for the return of 9.5 million people who have lost their homes or are living abroad.
Zelensky therefore sees a potential peace settlement as involving not only an end to hostilities but also security guarantees, national reconstruction, and public support for any agreement reached.
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