Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a ceasefire lasting at least 60 days, saying the pause in fighting is necessary to allow Ukrainians to vote on a proposed peace agreement aimed at ending the war with Russia.

Zelenskyy made the remarks Monday while speaking to reporters, following a flurry of diplomatic activity involving U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and senior Ukrainian officials, as Washington intensifies efforts to bring the nearly four-year conflict to a close.

The Ukrainian leader said a proposed 20-point peace framework must be submitted to a national referendum, arguing that public approval is essential for any agreement that would shape Ukraine’s future. He stressed that organizing such a vote would require a stable and secure environment, which could only be guaranteed through a temporary ceasefire.

According to Reuters, Zelenskyy said the peace plan could be put to a nationwide vote only if there is a ceasefire lasting at least two months.

He added that several of the most sensitive issues in the proposal remain unresolved, including the status of Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russian forces and long-term security guarantees designed to prevent a renewed invasion.

Those issues were discussed during Zelenskyy’s recent meeting with Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The meeting followed what Trump described as a lengthy and productive phone conversation with Putin.

While Trump has said Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to reaching a deal, both sides acknowledge that major obstacles remain, particularly over territorial control and security arrangements.

Zelenskyy also criticized Russia’s conduct during negotiations, saying Moscow’s military actions do not match President Putin’s stated commitment to peace.

Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and large portions of the eastern Donbas region, a central point of contention in any potential settlement.