Zelenskyy Presents Revised Plan to US: Referendum Condition for Land Deal

WISE NEWS PRESS / KYIV, UKRAINE — DEC. 13, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the submission of a revised 20-point peace plan to the US administration aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy characterized the negotiations as being in the "final, hardest phase" and emphasized that any issue regarding territorial concessions could not be decided by the government alone but must be put to a public referendum. The plan, presented amidst increasing pressure from the Trump administration for a resolution, includes comprehensive proposals for security guarantees and the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The Revised Plan and Territory Issues

Zelenskyy identified the most contentious points in the document as territorial integrity and the management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Within the scope of the negotiations, it was reported that the US proposed Ukraine withdraw its troops from the Donbas region in the east and establish a demilitarized "free trade zone" there. Zelenskyy stated that if any transfer of territory to Russia were to occur under a potential peace deal, it must be decided by the vote of the Ukrainian people, not behind closed doors.

Election Debates and Trump's Pressure

Responding to US President Donald Trump’s criticism that the Kyiv administration is "using the war" to avoid elections, Zelenskyy declared readiness to go to the polls if the necessary conditions are met.

Zelenskyy noted that elections could be held within the next 60 to 90 days if the US and other allies can ensure voting security. Dismissing claims that he is "clinging to power" as "illogical," the Ukrainian leader underscored that the electoral process, currently suspended due to martial law, can only operate in a secure environment.

The European Dilemma and the Washington Line

Reports that Washington and Moscow are discussing terms such as suspending Ukraine's NATO membership and prohibiting the "permanent" stationing of troops are causing anxiety in European capitals.

European leaders fear that a quick fix which "rewards" Russia with territorial gains will endanger continental security in the long run. However, the Trump administration's pursuit of "strategic stability" and its accusation that Europe holds "unrealistic expectations" are widening the rift between Brussels and Washington. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Trump might send a representative to Europe if there is a possibility of signing a peace agreement.

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