Ukraine Endorses US Peace Initiatives to Push Deal Forward, Says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv has aligned with US peace proposals in a bid to end the war with Russia, as President Donald Trump pushes for a resolution before the November mid-term elections.

In an interview with The Atlantic, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is willing to hold both a presidential election and a public referendum on any agreement, but will not accept terms that undermine the country’s security or sovereignty.

“The tactic we chose is for the Americans not to think that we want to continue the war,” Zelensky said. “That’s why we started supporting their proposals in any format that speeds things along.” He added, “Are we ready for elections? We’re ready. Are we ready for a referendum? We’re ready. We are not afraid of anything.”

The Ukrainian leader’s engagement with the US follows tensions earlier in 2025, including a heated Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Zelensky confirmed he rejected a proposal, reported by the Financial Times, to hold votes on February 24, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, citing unresolved issues around a ceasefire and security guarantees.

“No one is clinging to power,” he said. “I am ready for elections. But we need security, guarantees of security, and a ceasefire. We shouldn’t put a bad deal up for a referendum.” Vladimir Putin has questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy as a negotiating partner, pointing out that he has not faced an election since taking office in 2019.

While a document on US-backed security guarantees is nearly ready, Zelensky noted that key details remain unresolved, including whether the US would intercept missiles in case of a Russian violation. “This hasn’t been fixed yet,” he said. “We have raised these questions, and we will continue to do so. Everything needs to be clearly written out.”