Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly detailed a new American-led draft proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia. The revelation came during a lengthy briefing with journalists in late December 2025, where Zelenskyy presented a marked-up version of the document.
Key Concessions and Unresolved Demands
The 20-point plan, negotiated between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, represents the latest effort to find a diplomatic off-ramp to the conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine successfully removed several initial demands it found unacceptable. These included immediate requirements for a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donetsk region and any formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over territories seized since the invasion.
Furthermore, Kyiv managed to excise a clause that would have legally obligated Ukraine to renounce its pursuit of NATO membership. Despite these wins for Ukrainian negotiators, Zelenskyy was candid about the plan's imperfections, admitting there are elements within the document that he personally dislikes.
The Sticking Point: Territory and Troop Deployment
The core of the ongoing dispute, and the plan's most fragile aspect, revolves around territory. The Kremlin has maintained hardline demands for a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from eastern regions, a stance it is unlikely to abandon. The current proposal attempts to navigate this impasse by de facto recognizing the existing line of contact in the Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions as of the agreement date.
While not explicitly mandated in the text, the draft paves the way for potential future troop redeployments. It calls for a working group to determine the necessary steps to end hostilities, which could include establishing demilitarized zones. This is particularly relevant for the roughly 20 percent of the Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control.
"We are in a situation where the Russians want us to withdraw from the Donetsk region, while the Americans are trying to find a way," Zelenskyy explained. "They are looking for a demilitarized zone or a free economic zone, meaning a format that could satisfy both sides."
Broader Context and Mounting Pressure
The push for this plan occurs against a grim backdrop. The war, now in its fourth year, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, devastated eastern Ukraine, and displaced millions. Russian forces continue to advance on the front lines and relentlessly target Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure with missiles and drones.
U.S. President Donald Trump is actively pressuring both Moscow and Kyiv to agree to an end to the conflict. The proposal is reportedly under review by the Kremlin, but its acceptance remains highly uncertain. Russia has consistently claimed the annexation of four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, and Zaporizhzhia—in addition to Crimea, which it seized in 2014.
The disclosed plan underscores the immense challenges of peacemaking, where even a negotiated document between allies contains unpalatable compromises, and the ultimate adversary's approval is far from guaranteed.
