Kyiv, December 24, 2025 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday unveiled the latest iteration of a U.S.-supported peace plan aimed at ending Russia’s four-year invasion, yet questions about its viability and reaction from Moscow persist. This 20-point framework for peace is the product of months of talks between Ukrainian and American diplomatic teams to put an end to an eventful conflict that has upended European security.
Zelensky briefed journalists in Kyiv on the main elements of a draft plan drawn up with U.S. help and sent to Moscow for evaluation, which serves as the basis of future peace talks despite neither Russia nor Ukraine having signed it as binding agreements.
At its core, this proposal reaffirms Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and calls for a legally-binding non-aggression pact between Russia and Ukraine as well as security guarantees from the United States, NATO and European allies aimed at deterring future aggression. Under this plan, Ukraine could maintain a peacetime army of up to 800,000 troops and provisions envisage robust economic cooperation and investment – including plans to mobilise $800 billion for reconstruction and development once hostilities cease.
RTE
The peace framework also outlines steps toward Ukraine’s integration into European structures, including steps toward EU membership and expansion of trade ties with Western partners. Furthermore, certain provisions aim to build confidence between populations by encouraging educational reforms and cultural exchange as an antidote for decades of hostility.
RTE’s plan contains numerous unresolved and contentious issues that could obstruct peace negotiations. Two particularly contentious points involve controlling Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and Donbas region status in eastern Ukraine – issues on which Ukraine insists she maintain sovereignty while Russia pursues wider control of areas Moscow claims as its own.
Le Monde.fr
Another key issue concerns demilitarised zones and future governance structures in contested areas. Zelensky has indicated his willingness to discuss creating such zones conditionally upon reciprocal action by Russia as well as enforcement mechanisms under international oversight.
At present, Moscow’s response is still unknown. While Kremlin officials were briefed on the proposal, no sign has yet come from Moscow that it accepts or supports it substantively. Russian leadership is widely expected to demand significant concessions; so far they have rejected peace plans perceived as favouring Kyiv too much.
Al Jazeera Conflict in Ukraine continues even as diplomacy makes strides forward, with Russia using missile and drone attacks against various Ukrainian regions to kill civilians and disrupt power supplies – further underscoring how fragile is its current ceasefire and how costly protracted fighting has been for both parties involved.
Reactions to Ukraine’s peace plan have been muted. Western allies have welcomed and advocated for negotiations to continue, while simultaneously allocating funds to maintain Ukraine’s defense capabilities should they falter. Analysts warn that any final peace accord must not only require agreement among all negotiating parties but also widespread political support, such as backing from parliaments and, potentially, public referendum.
As the draft plan continues to circulate and discussions continue, Zelensky has proposed direct talks at the highest levels, such as with U.S. President Donald Trump and other Western leaders, to address some of the more pressing outstanding issues. One of the central questions surrounding European security in 2026 remains whether this framework will lead to lasting peace or simply become another step in an extended diplomatic process.