Zelensky's statement comes ahead of Sunday's expected meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida, with the aim of finalizing a framework for peace in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy emphasizes in a telephone interview that great progress has been made with the peace plan, but that Trump's plan still requires painful concessions from Ukraine in the form of land cessions in the east. If Ukraine does not gain a stronger position in the negotiations, the approval of the entire 20-point plan by the Ukrainian people may be required, he says.
The president compares a referendum on the issue to the one held in the UK on Brexit, but the timeframe is much tighter and the vote is taking place in a war-torn country.
Therefore, a 60-day ceasefire is a prerequisite, according to him.
“If people don’t come to vote because of security concerns, the result could be seen as illegitimate. It’s better not to have a referendum than to have one where people don’t have the opportunity to come and vote,” Zelensky told Axios.
Regarding the security guarantees requested by Ukraine, the US has proposed that they be valid for 15 years, with possible renewal. However, Zelensky wants to see the period extended.
