Ukrainian press: No authority to sign the peace agreement
Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper wrote that a possible peace agreement with Russia would mean a de facto loss of territory and that no bureaucrat would want to sign this document that would end his political career. The Kiev administration plans to take the peace agreement to a referendum combined with presidential elections to overcome this situation, which is seen as "political suicide", and to share responsibility.
Ukrayinska Pravda (UP), one of Ukraine's leading publications, pointed out that a possible peace agreement with Russia is an "unpleasant detail" in its news, which he reported on talks with officials at different levels of government.
According to the news, this detail is the need for someone to sign the agreement; however, there are very few people in the Ukrainian bureaucracy willing to take on this responsibility.
The sources who spoke to the newspaper said that even if it contains serious security guarantees and compensations for Ukraine, signing such a document, which means officially accepting the loss of territorial control, is considered equivalent to most officials to “squeeting a bullet in the forehead”.
The newspaper emphasized that the obligation to sign under the document is perceived as a "suicide".
The formula to share responsibility with the public: Referendum
The Ukrainian Constitution does not accept any method other than a "referendum to be held throughout Ukraine" on the change of country's territory.
According to UP, the Presidential Office considers this constitutional obligation as a "lifeguard".
Thanks to the referendum, the administration aims to share the heavy political responsibility that will bring from the loss of territory with the Ukrainian people instead of taking it alone.
The administration's plan is to combine the referendum with the presidential elections. Behind this strategy lies the statements made by US President Donald Trump that elections should be held in Ukraine in December.
However, the newspaper reminds that current Ukrainian laws prohibit elections and referendums at the same time.
Reasons for combining election and referendum
Speaking to Ukrayinska Pravda, officials explained the motivation behind the desire to unite the referendum and the elections on three main grounds:
Security: It is envisaged that the vote will be held in a ceasefire condition, not in a complete peace environment. Running two separate campaigns in an environment where the conflict has not completely ended carries the risk of both processes being interrupted due to security issues.
Cost: Every national voting process requires large financial resources. Combining the two votes will provide a significant saving.
Legitimacy: Due to the traditional low participation in referendums, presidential elections will serve as a "voter magnet". Thus, the high participation rate required for the legitimacy of the peace plan will be ensured.
The Chairman of the Election Commission was called to the parliament: Time bargain
According to the information obtained by the newspaper from sources close to the Presidency, at the end of 2025, the President of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine (CEC) Oleg Didenko was invited to the parliament (Verhovna Rada).
Didenko stated that the optimal period for preparing for the referendum is six months, but he was asked whether the process can be completed within 60 days.
Speaking to UP, MSK President Didenko confirmed that his institution proposed to start the election process at least six months after the lifting of martial law.
However, Didenko stated that the commission will implement any law to be passed by the parliament.
A high-ranking official from the ruling People's Servant party made the following assessment about the process:
“People must understand the situation as a whole and make the decision as a whole: We will gain something in one place, we will lose something in another place. However, this will be everyone's common decision.”
In December, Donald Trump told Politico that he criticized the Ukrainian authorities for "using the war to avoid elections" and argued that Ukrainian citizens should have an option.
Following this statement, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy confirmed that the country will be ready for elections in the next three months, provided that Western partners ensure security.
Ukrayinska Pravda stated that a working group in the parliament that prepares detailed proposals for the organization of elections in conflict with Russia is already operating.
First Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Aleksandr Korniyenko announced that deputies should present legal solution options by the end of January.
In an interview with Axios at the end of December, Zelenskiy stated that if the final 20-point plan requires a "very difficult" decision on the land, the most appropriate way would be to submit the issue to a public vote.
Zelenskiy pointed to Russia's agreement to cut down fire for at least two months as a prerequisite for this.
Axios stated that the US administration considers Zelenskiy's willingness for the referendum as an important progress.
There is support for peace in the public, there is no territorial concession
A survey conducted by the independent Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) revealed that 55 percent of Ukrainians support a referendum for a peace agreement, while 32 percent oppose it.
According to the research results, 69 percent of the public do not believe that the current talks will end in peace.
54 percent of the respondents categorically reject the fact that all of Donbass should be left under Russian control, even in exchange for security guarantees from the US and Europe.
The rate of those who stated that they could accept this scenario if "important security guarantees" were provided remained at 39 percent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, has repeatedly expressed that he is ready to respect the security guarantees to be prepared for both Ukraine and Russia.
However, Moscow opposes any plan that envisages the deployment of troops from NATO countries on the territory of Ukraine.
Putin stated in a statement at the beginning of December that the Donbass and Novorusya regions will be under Russian control in any case by military or otherwise.