Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that an end to the war with Russia is now one step closer, following significant alignment with the United States on a proposed peace plan. The update was delivered to journalists on December 24, 2025, outlining Ukraine's conditions and the commercial interests tied to future security and economic potential.
Core Challenges: Donbas and Nuclear Plant Control
Zelensky identified two primary obstacles in the 20-point peace plan. The most difficult issue remains the status of the eastern Donbas region, comprising Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia, which controls most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk, continues to demand Ukraine cede the remaining territory—an ultimatum Kyiv has rejected.
To bridge this gap, the United States has suggested transforming these contested areas into free economic zones. However, Ukraine insists any final arrangement must be subject to a national referendum and include the area's demilitarisation, policed by an international force to prevent future incursions.
The second major sticking point is the management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which is under Russian occupation. The US has proposed a tripartite solution where Ukraine, Russia, and the US would hold equal stakes in the enterprise. Zelensky confirmed that while consensus was not yet reached on these two critical points, most other positions in the agreement have been aligned.
Security Guarantees and Russian Withdrawal
The draft plan also stipulates a withdrawal of Russian troops from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. International forces would then be stationed along the contact line to monitor compliance. Zelensky expressed deep scepticism about Russian promises, citing a history of broken commitments.
"International forces should be there to guarantee that no one will enter there under any guise – neither ‘little green men’ nor Russian military disguised as civilians," Zelensky stated, underscoring the need for robust, external security guarantees.
Further difficult discussions lie ahead on the precise distance for troop pullbacks and the specific locations for international force deployments.
International Response and Next Steps
The Kremlin's response is pending. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would react based on a report from Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who met with US officials in Florida the preceding weekend.
Zelensky emphasised that the final decision on any peace deal rests with the Ukrainian people. "Ultimately, people can choose: this ending suits us or not," he said, framing the ongoing negotiations as a precursor to a democratic mandate. With Points 12 and 14 of the plan concerning the ZNPP and eastern territories still unresolved, the path to peace remains fraught with complex, high-stakes diplomacy.
