In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said that Zelensky must hold a referendum, otherwise it will be impossible to make peace with Putin.
Klitschko predicts that the coming months may be decisive for Zelenskyi. According to the mayor, the president will have to choose between continuing the war with possible new victims and destruction or considering the option of a territorial compromise with Putin.
"I cannot imagine how Zelensky will explain to the people the need to give back part of the territories that were captured at a high price," Klitschko notes.
The mayor also questions the possibility of reaching agreements without popular legitimation.
"Probably, Zelensky will have to hold a referendum or create a government of national unity, as happened in Israel after the Hamas attack," Klitschko believes.
Klitschko also criticized the centralization of power in the hands of Zelensky, noting that it led to the loss of the role of the parliament.
"Zelensky concentrated too much power in his office. We must avoid a situation where all important decisions come down to one president," says the mayor. He also recalled his displeasure with Zelenskyi's decision to fire Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhnyi, which caused considerable discontent.
Regarding Zelensky's proposal to hold a second international peace conference with the participation of Russia, Klitschko expressed skepticism. "The Russians are unreliable, their promises are worthless. It is still unclear how the situation will change after the US elections," he said, stressing the importance of US support for reaching peace agreements.
