Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed a positive outlook following a recent conversation with US envoys regarding strategies to conclude the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. On Thursday, Zelensky disclosed that his nearly hour-long call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner resulted in innovative ideas related to meeting formats, timing, and overall approaches to achieving lasting peace. This announcement came shortly after Zelensky detailed an updated 20-point peace plan, which was agreed upon by US and Ukrainian representatives in Florida.
During his remarks, Zelensky mentioned he requested Witkoff and Kushner to convey Christmas greetings to US President Donald Trump and his family. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has indicated that it is currently reviewing the proposals brought back from the US by a Russian envoy. Trump's administration has been actively engaging in discussions with both Ukraine and Russia, striving to negotiate a resolution to the conflict that escalated following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In recent days, there have been signs of progress, as Zelensky praised the constructive ideas presented by Witkoff and Kushner. He noted that it was a significant day for Ukraine's diplomatic efforts, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with the American team to navigate sensitive issues that remain unresolved. Zelensky further revealed that Ukraine's lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, along with the country's top security officials, will continue engaging with their American counterparts to further the discussions.
The recently revised 20-point peace plan is perceived as an enhancement to the initial draft proposed by Witkoff several weeks prior, which many viewed as heavily biased toward Russia's pre-invasion demands—a stance that Kyiv and its European allies argued would effectively mean Ukraine's capitulation. In his description of the updated proposal, Zelensky stated that it presents Russia with a potential opportunity for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the eastern regions, coupled with the establishment of a demilitarised zone in those areas.
Additionally, the plan now incorporates security guarantees from the US, NATO, and European nations, aimed at ensuring a coordinated military response should Russia choose to invade Ukraine again. Addressing the contentious issue of Ukraine's industrial eastern Donetsk region, Zelensky mentioned that the creation of a free economic zone could be a viable option. He emphasized that any territory vacated by Ukrainian troops would need to be policed by Ukrainian forces.
As it stands, Moscow currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and nearly 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region, collectively referred to as Donbas. President Zelensky has faced significant pressure from Trump to consider conceding all of Donbas to Russia as part of the peace negotiations facilitated by Washington. However, the Ukrainian leader has consistently rejected any proposals for territorial concessions, insisting instead on firm security guarantees for Ukraine as a prerequisite for any potential settlement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly articulated that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from Donbas, warning that failure to do so will result in Russia's intention to seize the territory. As diplomatic efforts continue, the situation remains fluid, with the international community closely monitoring developments in the pursuit of a durable peace in Ukraine.