Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirmed on Thursday that any future settlement of the territories in eastern Ukraine must be determined through a referendum or direct elections and must reflect the will of the Ukrainian people. This comes amid intensified US-led diplomatic efforts to end the four-year-long war with Russia.
During a press briefing, Zelenskyy noted that the eastern region, particularly Donetsk, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, represent the main sticking points in the negotiations. He stated, “The Donetsk region and everything related to it, as well as the Zaporizhzhia plant, are the two main issues we continue to discuss with the United States.”
In a new step within the international plan to end the war, the US administration revealed its push to establish a demilitarized “free economic zone” between Ukrainian and Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky explained that the proposed settlement would involve the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donetsk region, without requiring Russia to withdraw its forces from the area. However, there would be a partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy, while they would remain in their positions in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south of the country.
This initiative is part of intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the fighting and establishing a mechanism to ensure regional stability. Ukraine’s territorial rights must be preserved. Zelensky hopes that any settlement will be domestically acceptable through a referendum, while international dialogue continues to solidify the ceasefire and launch a lasting political process to end the conflict.
Experts emphasize that the success of this step hinges on consensus among international and local stakeholders. It also requires close monitoring of adherence to security and economic agreements that will shape the future of the eastern regions, rich in vital industries and nuclear power plants.
