U.S. pushes for March Ukraine peace deal, referendum and early elections

U.S. pushes for March Ukraine peace deal, referendum and early elections

KYIV — U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have discussed an ambitious goal of reaching a Russia–Ukraine peace deal by March, though officials and analysts cautioned the timeline is likely to slip because key issues — especially territory — remain unresolved, a Reuters report republished by WSAU said.

Under one framework described in those talks, any agreement would be put to Ukrainian voters in a referendum that could be paired with national elections, a structure also summarized by The Spokesman-Review and discussed in follow-up coverage by Kyiv Post.

March target — but territory remains the core obstacle

Sources described the largest gap as the fate of eastern Donbas and other occupied areas. Russia has demanded control of the entire Donbas, while Kyiv has called that unacceptable, though Ukrainian officials have at times signaled openness to exploring alternatives such as demilitarized or special economic arrangements, according to the Reuters account.

Another sticking point is the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant; one proposal described in the reporting would place the facility under U.S. control while supplying power to both sides, an idea Moscow has resisted, WSAU’s Reuters reprint reported.

Voting timeline collides with martial law and logistics

Even if negotiators converge on terms, a vote would require Ukraine to navigate major legal and security hurdles. Elections and referendums are barred under martial law, and election authorities have said organizing a nationwide vote under wartime conditions could take about six months, The Spokesman-Review wrote.

Two sources in the reporting said May was floated as a possible window for a combined referendum and national elections — a timeline some participants called unrealistic. Kyiv has also insisted that any voting period would require a durable ceasefire to protect the process, citing Russia’s record of violating prior halts in fighting, according to WSAU’s Reuters reprint.

What’s next: more talks, but skepticism on deadlines

Kyiv Post reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Washington has discussed a broader deadline extending toward early summer, with the U.S. prepared to increase pressure on both parties if talks stall, Kyiv Post wrote.

Talks have continued alongside prisoner exchanges — including the release of hundreds of prisoners of war reported after a round of discussions in Abu Dhabi — but multiple sources quoted in the coverage said deadlines should be treated cautiously until security guarantees and territorial questions are addressed.

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