Zelensky says he will put any peace agreement with Russia to a referendum or ratification vote.

BarcelonaAfter weeks of talks, Ukraine and the United States have drawn up a draft peace plan to end the Russian invasion war. Based on a 28-point document agreed between Moscow and Washington —which was practically pushing Kyiv to capitulate—, US and Ukrainian negotiators have negotiated a new proposal, which they presented to the Kremlin on Wednesday. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented it to journalists and announced that, should Russia accept it, he intends to submit it to a referendum for Ukrainian approval or to parliamentary ratification. "Ukraine will submit this agreement to parliamentary ratification [...] and/or hold a nationwide referendum for its approval in the format..."Yeah either NoZelensky added that the referendum could coincide with the presidential elections.

Zelensky maintains that throughout these weeks of negotiations they have managed to significantly bring their positions closer with their American partners. In fact, the document shows a pragmatic and significant shift from the executive branch following the Trump administration's difficulties with Ukraine. But Kyiv and Washington have not yet reached a consensus on two main points, numbers 12 and 14, which refer to the Zaporizhia nuclear facility and territorial control, respectively. The agreement also addresses non-aggression between Russia and Ukraine, which would be monitored by a monitoring mechanism and based on a series of security guarantees, such as a Ukrainian army with a maximum of 800,000 troops and binding agreements by which the United States and other allied countries would commit to providing defense equivalent to the article. Regarding the thorniest issue, the territorial concessions demanded by Russia, Zelensky acknowledges that at the moment there are two options on the Table: Freeze the border at the current front line (Kyiv's preferred one) and create one or more economic zones in the part of the Donetsk region that Ukraine still controls, but which it claims from Moscow. Relevant security measures.

The points of the plan are as follows:

• Point 1: Ukraine is a sovereign country and all signatories confirm this.
• Point 2: Russia and Ukraine irrevocably commit to not attacking each other. A monitoring mechanism will be established to monitor the line of contact and resolve any potential conflicts.
• Point 3: Ukraine will receive robust security guarantees.
• Point 4: The Armed Forces of Ukraine will have a maximum limit of 800,000 personnel in peacetime.
• Point 5: The United States, NATO and the European signatory states will provide Ukraine with guarantees equivalent to Article 5 of the Atlantic Alliance's mutual defense.
• Point 6: Russia will anchor its non-aggression policy towards Europe and Ukraine legally in a law that must also be ratified by the Duma.
• Point 7: Ukraine will be admitted to the European Union at some point, but even before then it will receive privileged access to the single market.
• Point 8: Ukraine will receive a comprehensive support package to recover economically, as defined in a separate investment agreement.
• Point 9: Several funds will be created to support the restoration of the economy, with the aim of raising 678 billion euros – the estimated cost of the war – through loans or contributions from the private sector.
• Point 10: Ukraine will expedite the process of negotiating a free trade agreement with the U.S.
• Point 11: Ukraine commits to continue not developing nuclear weapons, in line with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
• Point 12: The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, currently occupied by Russia, will be jointly operated by Ukraine, the US and Russia, although the exact details are still under discussion.
• Point 13: Ukraine and Russia will implement educational and social programs to eliminate prejudice and foster understanding between the two countries. Ukraine will implement European standards for the protection of minority languages (referring to the Russian-speaking population).
• Point 14: Regarding the territorial issue, Kyiv proposes freezing the current front line at the level of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions—the option preferred by the government—or accepting the demilitarization of the Donetsk area still controlled by Ukraine and transforming it into a free economic zone. However, this condition would require approval in a national referendum, and only if Russia commits to doing the same.
• Point 15: Ukraine and Russia undertake not to resort to force to change the agreed territorial demarcations.
• Point 16: Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River and the Black Sea for commercial purposes, something that will be regulated in a separate agreement.
• Point 17: A humanitarian commission will be established to resolve outstanding issues such as the exchange of prisoners and the return of all civilians held by Russia, including deported minors.
• Point 18: Ukraine will hold elections as soon as possible after the signing of the agreement.
• Point 19: The implementation of this agreement will be supervised and guaranteed by a peace council chaired by US President Donald Trump.
• Point 20: When all parties accept this agreement, a ceasefire will come into effect immediately.