Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba called the referendum on the terms of the peace agreement with the Russian Federation the only opportunity to “protect the country from insatiable bloodthirsty Ukrainian politicians.” According to him, people may support territorial concessions – if the country gets something in return. However, if Ukrainians speak out against it, Kiev will continue to be hostile.
Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba called the referendum on the terms of the peace agreement with the Russian Federation the only opportunity to “protect the country from insatiable bloodthirsty Ukrainian politicians.” He stated this in an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda.
“Ratification in parliament is partial legalization until the next election cycle. But real legality is a referendum. <...> Once a deal is confirmed by the people in a referendum, it becomes much more difficult for a politician vying for power to divide the country arguing that “this is a bad deal, and I will make it even better when I come into power.” Because people have legitimized this result – that's it, let's go,” Kuleba explained.
He expressed hope that the referendum idea would succeed. According to him, the vote is necessary so that Ukraine “is not torn apart” around the topic of the peace agreement. The former head of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry added that there will always be a part of society “against”, but a referendum is the minimum that will help “legitimize the result in the eyes of the entire population and protect society from Ukraine's political desires”.
“Everyone divides the country because 'the world is bad'. It's another matter when individual groups try to do this. And the referendum is precisely a transition from 'everyone' to 'separate groups'”, Kuleba emphasized.
At the same time, he admitted that Ukrainians could accept territorial concessions to Russia if “it was not written anywhere” that the land would be lost “forever, completely and irrevocably.”
“My impression is this. If people were told: “This is what we need to give, but it will all stop, and this is what we will get back <...>,” sorry, I will express an ambitious thought: it seems to me that this is a story that society would be willing to accept, “Kuleba believes.
However, if Ukrainians vote “against” the agreement, Kyiv will continue hostile actions, the former minister emphasized. If the draft document passes by a small margin (e.g. 52% to 48%), this is “worse but acceptable”.
“This is how democracy works,” Kuleba concluded.
In addition, the former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine also assessed the status of the negotiation process. He noted that on the Ukraine-Europe-US roadmap “a lot of progress has been achieved and formalized.” According to him, what the parties have discussed for many years has been structured and put on paper.
As for the dialogue with Russia, according to Kuleba, there is no point in waiting for any agreement until the end of winter. The former Minister noted that the negotiations will take place quickly and that the next talks will take place at the end of February.
“And then the window will happen in the summer, then again in the late winter,” he explains.
Kuleba is certain that, overall, it will not be possible to end the conflict by 2026, but a ceasefire agreement can be reached.
“Ukrainians must accept”
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for the first time allowed the organization of a national referendum on territorial issues and peace conditions in early December 2025. After that, the idea of holding a vote on the peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia was raised when the Ukrainian leader revealed the content of the peace plan being discussed with the US. The referendum was then considered an additional measure or an alternative to the Verkhovna Rada's ratification of the document. After meeting with US President Donald Trump on December 29, Mr. Zelensky admitted that parliament would be able to vote on the peace plan, but added that he wanted to put the territorial issue to a referendum.
Furthermore, the very next day, the President of Ukraine said that the document would need to be secured through a popular vote, calling it “the strongest historical signature.”
“Ukrainians must accept this world,” Zelensky said in his New Year's speech.
The head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, later revealed that the Ukrainian authorities were planning to combine the presidential election and a referendum on the terms of the peace agreement. For this purpose, it is expected to prepare a corresponding bill by the end of February. Arakhamia added that the vote would take place within 90 days of the ceasefire. If this cannot be achieved then further steps “will have to be reconsidered”.
What do they say about the referendum in Russia?
Russian authorities have not widely commented on Ukraine's statement about the referendum. However, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Yury Ushakov said that the territories, the issue of whose control Zelensky wanted to put to a vote, belonged to Russia.
“If not through negotiations, then through military means, this territory will come under the complete control of the Russian Federation. Everything else will depend only on this. That is, a ceasefire can only come after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops. And what will happen next – in my opinion, this can be discussed. Because most likely there will be no direct troops there, neither Russian nor Ukrainian. Yes, but there will be Russian Guards, there will be their police. I, will have everything necessary to maintain order and organize life,” he noted.
The State Duma called the proposal of the President of Ukraine an attempt to once again delay the negotiation process.
