Turkish FM says Ukraine conflict could be settled through referendum

The conflict in Ukraine could be resolved through a nationwide referendum or elections, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in an interview with tvnet.

According to Fidan, issues related to the Ukrainian crisis are likely to persist into 2026, at least during the first and second quarters of the year. 

“Some matters could be resolved through a referendum or elections in Ukraine. This could be a type of decision that a political leader would not want to sign alone,” he noted.

Fidan added that both Russia and Ukraine have clearly articulated what they want and what they reject, but stressed that their positions differ significantly. Despite this, the Turkish foreign minister expressed hope that the sides would eventually be able to reach a compromise solution.

Fidan's suggestion ties directly to the revised U.S. peace plan (scaled from 28 to ~20 points post-November 23 Geneva talks), which includes territorial freezes favouring Russia (e.g., Donbas status) and Ukrainian neutrality. Such concessions are politically toxic in Kyiv, where Zelenskyy faces constitutional barriers and public opposition to ceding land.

By Khagan Isayev