Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed new details of a revised peace plan aimed at resolving the conflict with Russia. The plan includes the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from eastern regions, to be replaced by a demilitarized zone. Zelensky outlined the 20-point plan, which was agreed upon by US and Ukrainian envoys during discussions in Florida over the weekend. He mentioned that the Russians would provide their response following discussions with American representatives. Zelensky emphasized that the proposed plan serves as a crucial framework for ending the ongoing war and includes security guarantees from the US, NATO, and European nations to coordinate a military response in case of a Russian invasion. Regarding the eastern Donbas region, Zelensky mentioned the possibility of establishing a “free economic zone” or a demilitarized zone instead of a complete troop withdrawal. The updated plan is considered a modification of a previous 28-point document, which was perceived as heavily favoring Russian demands. The issue of territory, specifically Ukraine’s Donetsk region, remains a sensitive topic to be resolved at the leadership level. The plan aims to provide Ukraine with strong security assurances and maintain a military force of 800,000 personnel. Zelensky pointed out similarities between the updated plan and outcomes from recent meetings in Berlin and Miami involving US, Ukrainian, and European officials, as well as Russian representatives. The plan includes provisions for creating economic zones in Donetsk under Ukrainian administration, with international forces monitoring the boundaries to prevent Russian incursions. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed intentions to control eastern Ukraine forcefully, there is optimism for a peaceful settlement driven by US efforts. Zelensky highlighted the importance of a referendum to approve the peace plan and potential economic zones in Donbas. The plan also addresses issues such as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the withdrawal of Russian troops from various Ukrainian regions.
In addition to reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty, the plan proposes a non-aggression pact between Russia and Ukraine with monitoring mechanisms. It includes provisions for strong security guarantees akin to NATO’s Article Five and outlines Ukraine’s potential accession to the European Union. Discussions are ongoing regarding compensation for security guarantees, and there is no mention of barring Ukraine from joining NATO in the latest framework. Furthermore, the plan entails the establishment of a Ukraine investment fund involving contributions from the US and Europe. It also requires Ukraine to hold elections promptly after the peace deal is finalized, despite being under martial law due to the conflict.