Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said disputed eastern territories could be put to a public vote, as President Donald Trump argued Kyiv’s leadership is the lone obstacle to ending the war.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said this week that residents of contested eastern regions could be allowed to decide their future through elections or a referendum, a statement that marks a notable shift amid stalled peace negotiations, even as fighting continues along the front lines.
In remarks delivered Thursday, Zelensky said Ukraine does not accept Russian claims to the entire Donbas region but acknowledged that the question of territory must ultimately be resolved by the Ukrainian people. “The Russians want the whole of Donbass – we don’t accept that,” he said. “I believe that the Ukrainian people will answer this question. Whether in the form of elections or a referendum, the Ukrainian people must have a say.”
Zelensky’s comments followed public statements in which he said he is working toward peace while simultaneously supporting ongoing military operations. He also confirmed that contested regions could be permitted to hold a vote on joining Russia, an issue that has remained a central obstacle in negotiations.
Russia responded swiftly. Presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Moscow considers the future of Donbas settled regardless of any vote. Speaking to Kommersant business daily, Ushakov said, “Whatever happens, this [Donbass] is Russian territory, and it will be under the control of our administrations, sooner or later.” He added that Zelensky has thus far opposed withdrawing Ukrainian forces from the region, a condition Ushakov said is included among U.S. peace proposals, according to remarks he later reiterated publicly.
Zelensky said Friday that ending the war remains his stated objective. “Our goal is the same – to bring the war to a real conclusion and to define the steps that will make peace dignified for Ukraine,” he said, adding that security and reconstruction must be guaranteed.
His remarks came after President Donald Trump said Ukraine’s leadership is the primary barrier to a peace agreement. Trump said Thursday that support for a proposed settlement was widespread within Ukraine, except at the top. “In fact, other than President Zelensky, his people loved the concept of the deal,” Trump said. “It’s a deal that would have stopped the killing of thousands of people every month,” Trump added, referring to comments he made during a public statement.
Zelensky also released a detailed update describing diplomatic and military coordination underway across multiple countries. In a statement posted Friday, he said Ukraine’s negotiating team had held several briefings, preparations were advancing in Germany on security guarantees led by Lieutenant General Hnatov, and economic and reconstruction talks had begun in the United States. He said Prime Minister Svyrydenko, Deputy Prime Minister Kachka, and Minister Sobolev were leading Ukraine’s economic delegation.
“The third line of work consists of ongoing online contacts between National Security Advisers,” Zelensky said, noting continued communication between Ukraine, the United States, European countries, and other members of what he called the Coalition of the Willing. “Across all areas, our goal is the same – to bring the war to a real conclusion and to define the steps that will make peace dignified for Ukraine.”
Later Friday, Zelensky posted from the front lines, where he said he was filming updates from the Kupyansk sector. In a separate statement, he said, “Today, I am in the Kupyansk sector, with our warriors who are getting the job done for Ukraine here.” He added that Russian claims about the area “do not match reality” and praised Ukrainian land forces for their role in ongoing combat operations.
The comments underscore the widening gap between Kyiv’s stated willingness to explore political solutions and Moscow’s insistence that territorial outcomes are already decided, as international efforts to broker an end to the conflict continue without resolution.
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