The lecture addressed Ukraine’s constitutional law dilemmas in the context of a possible peace agreement, focusing on key legal and institutional challenges under martial law.
On 22 April 2026, Prof. Dr Roman Petrov, Head of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence and Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, delivered the latest ‘Perspectives’ lecture of the Max Planck Foundation on the topic ‘Ukraine’s Constitutional Law Dilemmas and a Peace Agreement’.
A specialist in EU law and regional integration, Prof. Petrov presented a series of constitutional and legal dilemmas arising in the context of Ukraine’s current legal framework under martial law. He focused on the constitutional implications of the repeated renewal of martial law and mobilisation, as well as the restrictions this places on the conduct of an all-Ukrainian referendum on questions of territorial status and sovereignty.
Prof. Petrov also reflected on the practical and legal challenges related to the exercise of voting rights in a potential referendum, in light of the large-scale displacement of Ukrainian citizens since 2022 and the situation in occupied territories.
Finally, he outlined a possible timeline for the formalisation of a peace agreement, taking into account the required steps of lifting martial law, holding national elections, and organising a constitutionally compliant referendum.
Following the lecture, Prof. Petrov engaged in ample discussion with Research Fellows of the Foundation in an interactive Q&A session. The Foundation thanks him for his insightful lecture and valuable contribution to the ‘Perspectives’ Lecture Series.