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Zelensky's 20-point peace plan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled a US-backed 20-point peace plan proposing partial Ukrainian withdrawals from contested eastern areas while offering robust security guarantees and new monitoring mechanisms.
“The plan offers Russia the possibility of Ukrainian troop withdrawals from parts of the eastern Donbas but links any such moves to strong security guarantees from the US, NATO and European states — effectively mirroring aspects of NATO membership by promising coordinated military responses if Russia attacks again.”
Zelensky described the draft as the "main framework for ending the war" in briefings, and it envisages options such as demilitarized or "free economic" zones along parts of Donbas, saying vacated areas would be policed by Ukraine.
The draft also sets a peacetime Ukrainian force at about 800,000 and links withdrawals to international guarantees and monitoring.
The plan has been circulated to Moscow for feedback and builds on recent talks involving US negotiators and intermediaries in Berlin, Florida and Miami.
Security guarantees and monitoring
A central pillar of the plan is robust international security guarantees and a high-tech monitoring regime.
The draft reportedly models guarantees "roughly in spirit" on NATO's Article 5 with a separate US bilateral document to detail those guarantees; it also proposes satellite and early-warning technology and unmanned surveillance to monitor the contact line and enable rapid response to ceasefire breaches.
Zelensky and US negotiators said these measures would both deter renewed Russian offensives and reassure Ukrainians that any withdrawals would be reversible if guarantees fail.
Territorial adjustments proposal
The draft addresses specific territorial adjustments and sensitive sites.
“It envisages Ukraine pulling heavy forces back by 5, 10 or 40 km in the roughly 25% of Donetsk it still controls to create a 'free economic zone' (effectively demilitarised), with reciprocal Russian withdrawals by the same distances.”
It envisages Ukrainian pullbacks in parts of Donetsk by set distances to create demilitarized or economic zones.
It proposes an economic zone around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
It seeks Russian troop withdrawals from parts of Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kharkiv.
Some versions discussed in diplomatic talks reportedly suggested concrete withdrawal distances of 5, 10 or 40 km in roughly 25% of Donetsk that Kyiv still controls, with reciprocal Russian pullbacks by the same distances.
Peacetime forces and funding
The plan ties major defense and reconstruction items to sizeable peacetime force numbers and funding commitments.
Multiple reports say the package includes a Ukrainian peacetime army of about 800,000, while leaked proposals discussed in diplomatic meetings have suggested alternative caps, with theins.ru citing a 600,000 cap in some versions.
Theins.ru and other analysts warn that maintaining such large forces and financing reconstruction would demand large sums, and there is debate over whether frozen Russian assets should be redirected to rebuilding or kept frozen and used as collateral for loans.
Negotiation status update
Political acceptability and next steps remain contested.
“Zelensky cautioned he does not support all elements, said limited pullbacks could be possible only with parliamentary approval or a referendum, and noted the document has been sent to Moscow for review.”
Zelensky briefed that the 20-point text has been sent to Moscow and said Kyiv has not agreed to all elements.
He said some measures would require parliamentary approval or referendums.
Reports show Kyiv sought to remove language that would force it to renounce NATO aspirations and to preserve its sovereignty and EU accession prospects.
Moscow’s response is pending, and Kremlin demands continue to press for more extensive territorial concessions.
Core disputes, especially over control of Donbas, remain unresolved.