Zelensky has said any final peace agreement should be put to a national referendum in Ukraine, arguing that public approval is essential for such a consequential decision. He added that a 60-day ceasefire would be required to allow the vote to take place safely and fairly.
However, Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire. The issue was raised during a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of Sunday’s Florida meeting.
According to Yuri Ushakov, a former Russian ambassador to the US, Trump listened to Moscow’s concerns and both leaders agreed that a short-term ceasefire proposed by the EU and Ukraine could end up prolonging the conflict rather than resolving it.
Trump, who initiated the call, later acknowledged Russia’s reluctance to support a pause in fighting that would enable Ukraine to hold a referendum.
“I understand that position,” he said, adding that he believed Putin “wants Ukraine to succeed,” though he did not elaborate further.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, fighting continued overnight. Ukrainian officials said Russia carried out 25 air strikes on Sunday, 21 of which were intercepted by air defences.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces intercepted 89 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles overnight, most of them over the Bryansk region near the Ukrainian border.
While both Trump and Zelensky struck a notably optimistic tone following their talks, major obstacles remain, particularly over territory, security guarantees and the conditions for ending hostilities — underscoring how fragile and uncertain the path to peace still is.
