During the tripartite talks on the Ukraine conflict in Geneva, Zelenskyy revealed that the United States and Ukraine have reached an agreement that any peace treaty with Russia must be decided by a national referendum of the Ukrainian people.
Key Details and Zelenskyy's Statement
According to reports from multiple foreign media outlets, Zelenskyy disclosed this key information during the Geneva talks while giving an interview. Regarding the referendum, there are several core points worth noting:
Key Content of the Agreement: Zelenskyy clearly stated that if the agreement merely requires Ukraine to withdraw from the Donbas region, sacrificing its sovereignty there, such a deal would inevitably be rejected by the public in the referendum. He emphasized that the Ukrainian people could not emotionally accept such a result.
Acceptable Solutions: In contrast, Zelenskyy believes that if the agreement can achieve a ceasefire based on the current front lines, the public acceptance would be much higher.
Zelenskyy's Core Demands for the Referendum:
Submitting peace agreements involving territorial concessions to a referendum is both a political wisdom and a high-risk gamble. Rather than saying it is Zelenskyy's personal "fear of responsibility," it is more accurate to say it is a survival strategy under extreme circumstances, attempting to bind himself, the country, and the West together.
According to Ukrainian domestic law, major peace agreements involving territorial cessions or changes in the country's status require final approval through parliamentary voting or a national referendum. Zelenskyy has also stated that he should not put a "bad agreement" that is unfavorable to Ukraine to a referendum.
Zelenskyy's Multiple Considerations for Insisting on the Referendum:
Cloaking Concessions in "Legitimacy": Zelenskyy explicitly stated that if the agreement only required Ukraine to withdraw from Donbas, "it would be rejected by the Ukrainian people." The referendum effectively transfers the final decision-making power to the people, making the political consequences of "surrendering territory for peace" shared by all citizens rather than solely by the president.
Using Public Opinion as a Negotiation Leverage: Facing pressure from the U.S. for Ukraine to make concessions, the referendum serves as a shield. He can tell the West: It's not that I don't want to sign, but my people won't agree. This forces the U.S. and Russia to consider the public backlash when drafting the terms.
Gaining Time and Shifting Focus: Experts point out that referring the issue to a referendum essentially postpones the problem. This gives Ukraine valuable breathing space under unfavorable conditions and shifts the focus of the conflict from the president's personal decisions to the complex mobilization of the entire population.
Personal Political Exoneration: If the agreement is ultimately rejected in the referendum, Zelenskyy can follow the people's will and avoid being labeled as a "traitor to the nation"; if it passes, it means the country made a choice, not an individual compromise.
These are the true intentions behind Zelenskyy's insistence on the referendum. Starting a war, after four years, causing people's deaths, displacement, destruction of the land, and the country's ruin, he avoids taking responsibility for the war and instead shifts this disaster onto his own people. The people chose him, actually choosing suffering. This is Zelenskyy, an outdated president of Ukraine.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1857474833381376/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.