In brief
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has presented an updated 20-point peace plan during discussions with American negotiators, suggesting a potential withdrawal from eastern Ukraine as requested by Russia. Zelensky described this plan as a structured effort to end the ongoing conflict, emphasizing security guarantees from the US, NATO, and European allies. Amidst calls for a demilitarized zone, Zelensky raised concerns over the conditions that might arise from such a withdrawal, highlighting the need to establish economic zones in affected areas, including near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has given details of an updated peace plan that offers Russia the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the east that Moscow has demanded.
Giving details of the 20-point plan agreed by US and Ukrainian negotiators in Florida at the weekend, Zelensky said the Russians would give their response once the Americans had spoken to them.
Describing the plan as the main framework for ending the war Zelensky said it proposed security guarantees from the US, NATO and Europeans for a coordinated military response if Russia invaded Ukraine again.
On the key question of Ukraine's eastern Donbas, Zelensky said a free economic zone was a potential option.
The 20-point plan is seen as an update of an original 28-point document, agreed by US envoy Steve Witkoff with the Russians several weeks ago, which was widely seen as heavily geared towards the Kremlin's demands.
The Russians have insisted that Ukraine pulls out of almost a quarter of its own territory in the eastern Donetsk region in return for a peace deal. The rest is already under Russian occupation.
Zelensky told journalists that as Ukraine was against withdrawal, US negotiators were looking to establish a demilitarized zone or a free economic zone.
He said: There are two options: either the war continues, or something will have to be decided regarding all potential economic zones.
He emphasized that an economic zone would also have to be set up around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant currently occupied by Russia, and that Russian troops would have to pull out of four other Ukrainian regions - Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv.
