ReutersThe United States has proposed that Ukraine withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region and create a “special economic zone” in areas it currently controls, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Zelensky said that the territory and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remained the two main unresolved issues in the proposed peace plan for Ukraine.
In a sobering briefing to reporters, Zelensky addressed the United States’ desire for a quick end to the conflict, the complex nature of the ongoing negotiations and his belief that Russia did not want to stop the war.
Ukraine has sent the United States an updated 20-point plan plus separate documents on security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine’s reconstruction, Zelensky said.
It follows weeks of high-level diplomatic activity in which the United States, Ukraine, Russia and European leaders have drawn up, fine-tuned and revised various peace plans.
“The last kilometer is the most difficult. Everything could fall apart for many reasons,” Zelensky said Thursday.
Russia is demanding that Ukraine relinquish control of the roughly 30% of the eastern Donetsk region that it still holds, something Ukraine has refused to do, both on principle and because it fears it would allow Moscow a foothold for future invasions.
According to Zelensky, the United States is now contemplating a solution that would involve Ukrainian forces withdrawing from parts of Donetsk and Russian forces pledging not to advance into the territory. This area would become a “special economic zone” or a “demilitarized zone,” Zelensky said.
However, he noted that it would not be fair for the Ukrainians to withdraw unilaterally and that Russia should also retreat by the same distance.
“What will stop [Russia] to move forward? Or infiltrate disguised as civilians?” he asked.
Zelensky said these were “very serious concerns” and that Ukraine might not accept the proposal at all, although he opened the door to elections or a referendum to give the Ukrainian people a choice.
But he acknowledged that fighting would continue and could still determine the future of negotiations: “A lot depends on our military: what they can defend, where they can stop the enemy, what they can destroy. This affects the entire configuration.”
The management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was another highly controversial point, Zelensky said.
The power plant, the largest in Europe, is located on the front line and has been under Russian control since March 2022.
Zelensky said a possible solution would be for the Russians to withdraw and for kyiv to share control of the plant with the Americans, although he acknowledged that the details of such a deal were still unclear and it is doubtful Moscow would agree.
US President Donald Trump appears to have become frustrated by the complexities of the conflict, and kyiv and its allies fear that the Americans will eventually try to impose a Russian-led solution on Ukraine.
Zelensky told reporters that although the Americans wanted a “quicker conclusion” to the war, there were no deadlines for reaching a deal.
Ukraine, which is the target of widespread airstrikes almost nightly, has been pushing for respite and would like an immediate ceasefire in place before a more laborious deal is finalized.
But Russia stands to gain more by delaying the ceasefire, as its troops continue to make small but incremental gains on the front line and its attacks exhaust the Ukrainian population.
“After multiple rounds of talks with Russia,” the Americans were now aligned with Moscow on this position, Zelensky said.
Kremlin officials have been more reserved than their European, American and Ukrainian counterparts.
However, wherever possible, Russia has sought to cement the impression that Moscow and Washington are aligned in their hopes for the terms of a peace deal.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump for trying to broker a deal and said a recent meeting between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin had “eliminated” “misunderstandings” between the two sides.
The foreign minister also rejected suggestions that kyiv could be given security guarantees in the form of foreign troops stationed in Ukraine.
“This is another return to the sad logic of Zelensky’s so-called peace formula,” Lavrov said, adding that Moscow had given the United States “additional” proposals on collective security and that Russia was willing to give legal guarantees not to attack NATO or EU countries.
But neither Ukraine nor Europe is likely to take any promises from Moscow at face value, given that Russia has previously violated ceasefires and truce agreements.
European and Ukrainian officials want the United States to be involved in providing security guarantees so that kyiv does not become a target for new attacks.
Zelensky said he had received a draft proposal on American security guarantees, but that the draft was a work in progress, suggesting that what the United States offered falls short of provisions that could calm kyiv’s fears.
“The United States does not want Ukraine in NATO. They say it openly… So I don’t think they will have difficulties discussing NATO with the Russians,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky also said Ukraine had to be “cautious,” adding: “We don’t know what other agreements the United States may have with Russia. We will learn over time.”
Ukraine’s president also acknowledged that US support for kyiv could one day end, both in terms of the flow of weapons the US is selling through other countries and in terms of intelligence sharing.
Reflecting the tense nature of the talks and his skepticism that Russia was negotiating in good faith, Zelensky told reporters: “No one knows what can happen the day after tomorrow… We don’t know how these negotiations will end.”
