Zelensky revealed this Thursday that the United States wants the Ukrainian army to withdraw from the territories it still controls in the eastern region of Donetsk, where Washington is committed to creating a “free and “demilitarized” economic zone.
Previously, the Trump Administration had proposed that Ukraine hand over to Russia the parts of Donbas that it still controlled, but Zelensky assured this Thursday that the United States now proposes that Ukrainian troops withdraw, but that Russian troops not advance in that territory.
Ukraine presented to the United States this Wednesday a new 20-point draft to end its war with Russia, Zelensky announced, acknowledging that the issue of ceding territory remains a major point of friction in the negotiations.
In fact, the Ukrainian president insisted that any decision on transfers of territories will be made by Ukrainians, opening the door to voting in a referendum.
Ukraine is under increasing pressure from the Trump administration to quickly agree to a deal with Russia, which has intensified its advances on the front lines in recent months and renewed its massive attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Asked about an alleged Christmas deadline that Trump had set for Ukraine to accept the new peace proposal, he said Washington had not given kyiv a strict deadline. “I think they really wanted, or perhaps still want, to have a full understanding of where we are with this deal before Christmas,” he responded.
In addition to a 20-point draft, the peace plan will include separate documents on security guarantees, to prevent Russia from attacking again, and on rebuilding Ukraine’s cities after the war ends.
Ukraine, which claims to have been let down by previous security guarantees from its allies, insists that the guarantees be ratified in parliament.
Zelensky reported this Thursday that he had an “in-depth” discussion about the matter with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff.
kyiv also wants to maintain a strong army after the fighting ends, and Zelensky said the latest draft proposal puts it at 800,000 men, higher than what was initially proposed.