Ukraine cannot withdraw from its own territory – Zelensky

He said this in an interview with Fox News, Ukrinform reports.

"We have the question with territories. It's not about a referendum, parliament, or the president. We can't just withdraw from our territories. It's out of our law," Zelensky said.

He stressed that 300,000 people live in these territories.

"That's why we proposed, I think, a compromise: if we create a free economic zone and we have to move some kilometers back, it means that Russia also has to make mirror steps and move some kilometers back. If the decision is about an economic zone, a referendum will be the way to accept or not accept it [such a decision]," Zelensky said.

He stated that a 20-point peace plan had been 90% agreed upon, with issues remaining on two points, including territorial matters. According to him, Ukraine and Russia have different views on this issue.

Zelensky noted that the United States "understands the positions of the sides" and is trying to find a compromise. Washington and Kyiv have discussed various steps to achieve peace, and Ukraine has demonstrated these steps over the course of this month, he said.

Zelensky added that approval of the peace plan by the Ukrainian people would be a major success for U.S. President Donald Trump, as these efforts are being carried out under his leadership.

Zelensky earlier said that Point 14 of the draft basic document between Ukraine, the United States, Russia, and Europe on ending the war, which concerns resolving the territorial issue, could include the following compromise: Russian forces would withdraw from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. At the same time, a "free economic zone" would be established in Donbas. Such a compromise, if agreed, would have to be put to a nationwide referendum.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine