February 14, 2026 | 02:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly weighing concessions to Russia, including the potential transfer of parts of the Donetsk region, according to the UNN Thursday report from The Atlantic, citing presidential advisors.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov maintained that under the Russian Constitution, Crimea, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, and the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions remain Russian territories.
The report suggests that Ukrainian authorities are considering the handover of several regions as part of these major concessions. Zelenskyy reportedly believes that for such a move to be legitimate, Ukraine must hold a national referendum this spring to authorize the decision.
This referendum could potentially be held alongside a presidential election, through which Zelenskyy hopes to reaffirm his support among the Ukrainian people.
The publication further noted that Ukraine has largely stepped back from its demand that Vladimir Putin and his generals face war crime trials. Additionally, Zelenskyy has reportedly agreed to meet with Putin at any location outside of Moscow without prior conditions.
Sources informed the publication that Ukraine may be prepared to accept its most difficult compromise yet: relinquishing control over territories in eastern Donetsk.
"To legitimize such a compromise, they considered holding a referendum on a peace plan this spring, allowing Ukrainians to vote on an agreement that includes the loss of territory," The Atlantic reports.
"They could combine this with presidential elections, hoping to give Zelenskyy a new mandate for the first time since 2019."
Zelenskyy indicated that such an approach appeals to him, as it could drive voter turnout and make it harder for Russia to dispute the results, though he emphasized it "must be the right deal."
"I don't think we should put a bad deal to a referendum," Zelenskyy added, noting that the push for general elections during wartime originated in Russia to remove him from power.
U.S. President Donald Trump has characterized Zelenskyy as a "dictator without an election" and claimed his approval rating has fallen to 4 percent. In early December, Trump stated that the time had come for Ukraine to hold elections.
Zelenskyy’s presidential term officially ended on May 20, 2024; however, new elections were suspended due to the enforcement of martial law and general mobilization.
Following Trump's remarks, Zelenskyy expressed a willingness to proceed with elections but requested security guarantees from the United States and European allies.
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