KYIV, March 28 – President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a popular referendum would make it possible to amend the Constitution on the neutral status of Ukraine in a few months, which is faster than the parliamentary procedure for constitutional amendments.

"Changes of this or that status, and security guarantees imply a neutral status – this is a constitutioal change. These are two sessions [of the Parliament], two sessions is a year. Can you imagine how long all this can be? A referendum is a step faster. Because only the people can decide that there will be such a status and such guarantees. The referendum will take place within a few months, and amendments to the Constitution [through the parliament] will take place for at least a year, in accordance with current legislation," Zelensky said in an interview with Russian journalists published on the website of the President's Office.

The head of state stressed that Ukraine is ready to amend the Constitution in terms of neutral status.

"Security guarantees and neutrality, a non-nuclear status of our state. We are ready to go for it. This was the first point of principle for the Russian Federation. And as far as I remember, they started a war because of this ... The point of security guarantees for Ukraine is being discussed. It is deeply worked out," he said.

"But I am interested that this is not another piece of paper a la the Budapest Memorandum. Therefore, we are interested in this paper turning into a serious agreement that will be signed by all guarantors of this security. It must be ratified by the parliaments of the guarantor countries and there must be a referendum in Ukraine," he added. (om/ez)