Axios reported on the positive assessment of the United States of Zelensky's words about the referendum

The administration of US President Donald Trump has assessed the words of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky about a possible referendum on a peace agreement including territorial concessions as a sign of progress in the negotiations. This was reported on December 13 by the Axios portal, citing sources in the White House.

"The White House representative noted that Zelensky hinted during public appearances on Thursday that Ukraine could hold a referendum on a peace agreement that includes the transfer of territories. The official noted that the United States sees this as progress," writes Axios.

According to the newspaper, on Monday, December 15, in Berlin, Trump's special envoy Steven Witkoff and the son-in-law of the American leader Jared Kushner will meet with Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to promote the American peace plan. The White House believes that the parties are close to agreement on most issues, except for territorial concessions.

A representative of the US administration also told Axios that Washington is ready to provide Kiev with a security guarantee similar to Article 5 of NATO, which will be approved by the US Congress. At the same time, as the portal notes, a number of European leaders advise Kiev not to rush to conclude a peace deal.

Sabotage demand: Kiev will again try to accuse Russia of disrupting negotiations

What else is Zelensky trying to achieve with his statements about elections and a truce?

On December 11, the Public television channel reported that Zelensky had allowed the holding of an "all-Ukrainian referendum" on the issue of territories. According to the TV channel, Zelensky said that the citizens of Ukraine should express their opinion on the issue of Ukraine leaving the controlled part of Donbass.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, responding to a question about Zelensky's proposed idea to hold a referendum to determine the affiliation of Donbass, said that all of Donbass is Russian. He recalled that the affiliation of Donbass is spelled out in the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on December 12 that if Zelensky hopes to provide Kiev with a respite through a referendum on the territorial issue, he will not succeed. According to Peskov, Russia in Ukraine seeks peace, not a truce.

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