Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has presented a detailed new framework aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia. The plan outlines twenty specific points for peace and includes a call for a direct leadership summit with former US President Donald Trump to break the most difficult deadlocks.
The Core of the 20-Point Peace Framework
As the conflict approaches its fourth year, negotiators meeting in Florida have agreed on several foundational elements. The current draft, revealed on Wednesday, 24 December, marks a shift from earlier versions accused of being too favorable to Moscow. A major sticking point remains the future status and sovereignty of the Donbas region. Zelenskyy stressed that while technical teams have made progress, final decisions on this eastern industrial heartland must be made at the highest level.
The proposed agreement would allow Ukraine to maintain a substantial peacetime military force of 800,000 personnel. It also includes strong security guarantees from the United States and European allies. These guarantees are modelled on NATO's Article 5 and would use satellite tech and early warning systems to monitor any ceasefire.
Territorial Disputes and the Referendum Question
Control of territory continues to be the primary obstacle. Kyiv's position is to freeze the battle lines at their current location on the date an agreement is signed. This means the line of contact in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions would become the de facto border. However, Moscow demands a full Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk.
To find a middle ground, the United States has proposed turning the disputed Donbas area into a free economic zone. President Zelenskyy has insisted that any such arrangement must be approved by a nationwide referendum in Ukraine. He explained that the referendum would cover the entire peace agreement, not just single issues. "Only a referendum can determine whether people agree to this path," Zelenskyy told Ukrainian media.
He added that holding a legitimate referendum would require a real ceasefire for at least 60 days. The creation of any free economic zone would also need approval from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, through a separate law. International monitoring forces would oversee such zones.
Other Key Provisions and Regional Withdrawals
The peace framework maps out a future for Ukraine that includes membership in the European Union, post-war elections, and a fast-tracked free trade deal with the U.S., backed by significant reconstruction funding.
Furthermore, the plan requires a Russian military withdrawal from several other regions. For the agreement to take effect, Russian troops must pull out of Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. International monitors would then be stationed along the contact line to ensure compliance. A similar economic zone arrangement is being considered for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The Kremlin has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the latest draft and is preparing a response. Zelenskyy's push for a meeting with Trump highlights the belief that resolving the fate of Donbas and final borders will ultimately require top-level, high-stakes diplomacy.
