• Ukraine's president said his country would never accept Russian ultimatums as a condition for peace.
  • He said any compromises with Russia would need to be decided by Ukrainians in a referendum.
  • "The question concerns the fact that the people and the government are united," Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Russia's ultimatums for peace and said any compromises made with the country to end its invasion would need to be decided by Ukrainians by referendum.

"When you talk about certain changes and they can be historic, we are not going anywhere. We will come to the referendum," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Eurovision News and Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne that aired on Monday.

"Our people will have to say and give an answer to certain formats of compromises which you mentioned before. What will those be? It will be defined by our conversation and understanding between Ukraine and Russia," he said.

Zelenskyy was not referring to any specific plans for a referendum.

Zelenskyy also said Russia has given him ultimatums with demands that it says would lead to the end of the war which, in over three weeks, has left scores dead and seen Ukrainian cities bombarded. 

 

Russian demands of Ukraine in return for a cease-fire and troop withdrawal have included political neutrality, limited military strength, a guarantee to never join NATO, and recognition of the Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

But Zelenskyy said Russia's demands extended beyond what he can agree to, and that Ukraine won't compromise with any Russian ultimatums. 

"The question concerns the fact that the people and the government are united," he said. "You cannot do it with ultimatums."

Zelenskyy said last week that Ukraine wants security guarantees and restoration of the country's "territorial integrity" as part of his peace talks with Russia.

"My priorities in the negotiations are absolutely clear: The end of the war, security guarantees, sovereignty, restoration of territorial integrity, real guarantees for our country, real protection for our country," he said in a video address.

Ongoing peace talks between the two sides have not produced concrete changes so far. Monday marks the 26th day of the Russian invasion.

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