This was reported by the Financial Times website, citing Ukrainian and European officials involved in the preparations. According to earlier information from Reuters, the referendum is being discussed in negotiations between Kiev and the US.
The proposed framework stipulates that any peace agreement would have to be approved by citizens in a referendum, which could be held at the same time as the national elections.
May is mentioned as one of the possible dates, which is preferred by the United States in particular. However, Ukrainian electoral authorities estimate that under current conditions, it would take about six months to organize the elections, making the May date unrealistic.
The American negotiating team, led by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has been pushing for the vote to take place as soon as possible in recent meetings in Abu Dhabi and Miami.
The second round of US-mediated talks ended last week in Abu Dhabi with the release of 314 prisoners of war and a promise to continue discussions. President Volodymyr Zelensky also indicated that another trilateral meeting could take place soon in the United States.
The sticking points remain Russia's desire to control the entire Donbas region and manage the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which Kyiv rejects. Ukrainian voters could express their views on this in a referendum.
According to available information, Ukraine has begun preparing for presidential elections and a plebiscite on the future of relations with Russia in parallel with the peace talks.
(reuters, mja)