Joanna Kikisis

Well, there are many obstacles to that.

Ivana Klimpushtinsada, she's a member of Ukraine's parliament.

She told me about a legal obstacle.

And then she says there are huge logistical challenges, like how four million Ukrainian refugees could vote or how soldiers on the front line could vote.

Yes, absolutely.

Public opinion polls show most Ukrainians think holding elections now is actually a terrible idea.

Yulia Hryp, who works in customer service here in Kyiv, she told us Russia could attack voting precincts.

Now, Zelensky says elections could only happen during a ceasefire and with security guarantees from the West.

And, Michelle, if elections were held soon, sometime soon, public opinion polls showed that Zelensky would still come in first.

You know, some people say, is it like the Brady Bunch?

Well, a little bit, because it really is a blended family.

News media say the proposal, drafted by Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, would amount to a capitulation by Ukraine if adopted.

Media reports say the plan includes demands that Ukraine surrender territory, cut its military, give up some weapons...

and drop its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

These demands give Russia far more than was discussed in earlier rounds of negotiations.

Writing on social media, Zelensky's office confirmed receiving a, quote, draft plan that, according to the American side, could activate diplomacy, but did not comment on the details of the plan.

Joanna Kekisis, NPR News.

NPR spoke to four Ukrainian brigades whose soldiers are defending the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a city which Russian attacks have largely destroyed.

Small groups of Russian troops have infiltrated the city, leading to intense street battles.

Volodymyr Polovyi is with Ukraine's 7th Rapid Response Corps.