Media reports say Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said yesterday that any potential deal agreed in peace negotiations to end the war with Russia will be submitted to the Ukrainian people in a referendum.
According to The Kyiv Independent, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the decisions on issues such as security guarantees and the occupied territories of Donbas will be put up on an all-Ukrainian referendum. "I explained it to all the negotiating groups: When you speak of all these changes [in a possible deal] and they can be historic…we will come back to a referendum," Zelenskiy told Internet news site Suspilne on March 21, according to Radio Liberty.
“The people will have a say in any type of compromises. But what the [compromises] will end up being will be the result of our talks and agreements between Ukraine and Russia. Therefore, I am ready to do whatever is necessary if our people support my decisions," he noted.
Zelenskiy added that the security guarantees that are currently being discussed involve changes in Ukraine’s constitution and legislation, implying that Ukraine might be removing the NATO membership aspiration from its constitution.
In reference to NATO, Zelenskiy has conceded that his country was unlikely to join the Western military alliance.
"We have all already understood it," Zelenskiy said, adding that Ukraine would not be admitted to NATO because member states fear Russia’s reaction.
Zelenskiy restated his insistence on the need to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin "in any format" to end the fighting.
"I believe that without this meeting, it is impossible to fully understand what they are ready for in order to stop the war," Zelenskiy said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine four weeks ago, noting Russia\s actions are to demilitarize Ukraine and ensure its neutrality while removing its leaders.
Putin has also long demanded that Ukraine give up any intentions of joining NATO.
