Referendum on Donbas? Zelensky warns against the wrath of Ukrainians

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused US President Donald Trump of exerting undue pressure during negotiations to end the war between Ukraine and Russia.

In an interview with Axios, he said it was "not fair" for Trump to publicly call on Kyiv to make concessions while criticizing Moscow less. Zelensky hopes that this is just a negotiating tactic and not Washington's definitive position.

At the same time, he stressed that any plan that would require Ukraine to give up more of the Donbas would not pass in a referendum. According to him, citizens would never forgive the loss of territory that Russia does not even control.

However, the president admitted that freezing the front line at its current positions could gain public support. Meanwhile, negotiations between representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the US continue in Geneva.

(reuters, mja)