‘Zelensky needs to hold a referendum on stopping the war with the loss of territories’, – said Kyiv Mayor Klitschko

Volodymyr Zelensky may have to hold a referendum if the question of reaching “painful agreements” with Vladimir Putin arises.

This perspective was expressed by Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

At the beginning of the interview, the publication quotes Klitschko extensively, indicating a context related to the challenges faced by Zelensky.

“The next few months will be very difficult for Volodymyr Zelensky. Should he continue the war with new deaths and destruction, or should he consider a territorial compromise with Putin? In such a case, what pressure will come from America if Trump wins? And how can we explain to the country that we must give up parts of our territory, which cost the lives of thousands of our heroes? Whatever step he takes, our president risks committing political suicide. Let’s be clear: we must win the war, but the situation is becoming increasingly complicated and depends on the help coming from allies. It would be a nightmare if we had to fight for another two years,” the publication quotes Klitschko as saying.

The mayor believes that “Zelensky will likely have to resort to a referendum; I do not think he can reach such painful and significant agreements on his own without popular legitimacy.”

As a solution, Klitschko urged Zelensky to create a “national unity government, similar to what happened in Israel after the Hamas attack on October 7.”

“However, I am not sure he is ready to give up the power concentrated in his hands, which was granted to him by martial law from the first day of the Russian invasion,” the mayor added.

Two days ago, Zelensky admitted that Ukraine might not be able to regain all territories by force.

Today, CNN reported that Kyiv is ready for negotiations with Russia without the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.