In a dramatic escalation of tensions at a moment when competing peace plans are heavily promoted by major global powers. Russia dismissed President Volodymyr Zelensky’s plan to let Ukrainians decide on the future of the Donbass region in a nationwide referendum. The Kremlin maintains that Donbass, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia are already Russian territory, following its annexation last year. Ukraine is countering that only its citizens can determine territorial questions, while the pressure grows from the United States and Europe to consider compromise frameworks. The dispute serves as a signal of deepening fractures not only between Moscow and Kyiv, but among the countries seeking to mediate an end to the war.
Moscow rejects the proposal outright
Russia’s presidential adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said proposals for a referendum in Ukraine were already irrelevant, given that constitutionally, Donbass is part of Russia. He stressed that any talk of territorial concessions by Moscow is “unacceptable”; Ukrainian proposals are aimed at inserting positions that will never get through Russian approval.
Zelensky said that, with high international pressure, the Ukrainian people have to have the final say in any territorial readjustments. He said that Washington is proposing a formula under which Ukrainian forces will have to withdraw from parts of Donbass, and turn the area into a “free economic zone.” However, the proposal does not require Russia to withdraw from the territory it currently occupies—now an important sticking point for Kyiv.
Europe and U.S. Bracing Other Peace Frameworks
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has confirmed that the latest Euro-Ukrainian peace plan has still not reached the White House. This version, reportedly, enumerates the possible “territorial concessions” that might be acceptable to Ukraine. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with both Kyiv and Moscow, telling advisers he wants “action, not endless meetings.”
For the first time, Moscow publicly indicated that a demilitarized zone could be created around Donbass. However, Ushakov emphasized that the area would be managed by units of the Russian National Guard-an armed force active in the war. That effectively would turn the proposal into a rebranded occupation, rather than a neutral buffer zone.
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Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant adds another layer of tension
Zelensky noted that the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant-the largest in Europe-remains undecided. The U.S. plan reportedly accepts current military positions in the region-something Kyiv cannot support. Economic reconstruction and long-term security guarantees are being prepared in separate documents, based on negotiations between Zelensky and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
contact continues, but stances are firming up Officials from Ukraine, the U.S., France, Germany, and the U.K. will meet in Paris this weekend to take stock of the competing proposals. With Moscow ruling out a referendum, Kyiv refusing to make unilateral concessions, and Western mediators split on how far Ukraine should go, the road toward any kind of settlement is foggy.
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