Kyiv, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would be willing to withdraw troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end Russia’s war, if Moscow also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces.
Proposed Demilitarized Donbas Zone
Zelenskyy presented the idea as another possible compromise on control of the Donbas region, a long-standing sticking point in peace negotiations. He explained that the United States had suggested creating a “free economic zone,” which he said should be demilitarized. The proposal, however, left unclear how governance or development would be handled.
He added that a similar arrangement could be applied to the area surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which remains under Russian control. Any peace plan, he said, would need to be put to a referendum.
Zelenskyy outlined a 20-point plan that negotiators from Ukraine and the United States hammered out in Florida in recent days, though he noted many details were still under discussion.
Zaporizhzhia Plant Negotiations
The U.S. has proposed a consortium that would give Ukraine, the United States and Russia an equal 33 % stake in the plant. Zelenskyy countered with a joint venture between the U.S. and Ukraine that would allow the Americans to decide how to distribute their share, including giving some of it to Russia. He called the U.S. proposal “not entirely realistic.”
He questioned the feasibility of joint commerce with Russia after the war, asking, “How can you have joint commerce with the Russians after everything?”
The plant requires billions of dollars in investment to restart, including restoring the adjacent dam, Zelenskyy said.
Security Guarantees and Military Limits
The working draft guarantees Ukraine “strong” security guarantees that would obligate partners to act if Russia launched another assault, mirroring NATO’s Article 5. A separate document with the U.S. will outline these guarantees, detailing conditions for renewed aggression and establishing a mechanism to monitor any ceasefire.
The draft also includes provisions for keeping Ukraine’s army at 800,000 during peacetime and making Ukraine a member of the European Union by a specific date, a key Russian demand.
Economic and Political Conditions
Ukraine seeks accelerated free-trade agreements with the United States and wants a similar deal with Russia. It also seeks short-term privileged access to the European market and a robust global development package, including a development fund to attract outside investment.
Other points in the draft involve raising $800 billion for reconstruction through equity, grants, loans and private-sector contributions. The proposal requires Ukraine to hold elections after signing the agreement, noting that Zelenskyy’s five-year term was scheduled to end in May 2024 but was postponed because of the invasion.
Ukraine also demands the immediate release of all prisoners taken since 2014, including civilian detainees, political prisoners and children.
Russia’s Position
Russia has given no indication that it will agree to any withdrawal. Moscow insists Ukraine surrender the remaining territory it still holds in the Donbas, an ultimatum Ukraine has rejected. Russia has captured most of Luhansk and about 70 % of Donetsk.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Moscow would decide its position based on information received by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who met with U.S. envoys in Florida over the weekend. Peskov declined to share further details.
American negotiators have been engaging in separate talks with Ukraine and Russia since President Donald Trump presented a plan to end the war last month, a proposal seen as favoring Moscow.
Other Developments
An explosion in Moscow on Wednesday killed three people, including two police officers, Russian investigators said, days after a car bomb killed a high-ranking general nearby.
An official from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, GUR, told the Associated Press that the attack was part of an agency operation. Another official said the police officers had taken part in Russia’s war in Ukraine, but no details were provided. Both spoke on condition of anonymity.
Key Takeaways
- Zelenskyy offers to withdraw troops from Donbas if Russia does the same and the area becomes a demilitarized economic zone.
- The U.S. proposes a 33 % joint-ownership of Zaporizhzhia plant, while Ukraine seeks a U.S.-only venture.
- The draft guarantees strong security guarantees, limits Ukraine’s army to 800,000, and sets a path to EU membership.
Zelenskyy’s proposal marks a significant shift in Ukraine’s peace strategy, offering concrete steps that could bridge the gap between Kyiv, Washington and Moscow. Whether Moscow will accept these terms remains uncertain, but the discussion has opened new avenues for a potential settlement.
