Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed details about the latest US plan to end the war in Ukraine. Specifically, he stated that it has been agreed upon between negotiators from Kyiv and Washington and has been sent to Moscow, although according to reports from Kyiv Independent, the US has not agreed on two points. So far, Ukraine and the US have not reached agreement on two significant issues in the revised plan – points 12 and 14, which concern control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, currently under Russian occupation, and control of the Donbas region, which has been devastated by war since 2014 and is entirely claimed by Russia. The agreement also does not mention Ukraine’s expectations for NATO membership, the Ukrainian media outlet reported. The document will be supplemented with additional bilateral agreements between the United States and Ukraine regarding security guarantees and reconstruction.
Ukraine: Zelensky requests leader-level meeting on territorial issues
“We have not reached consensus with the American side regarding the Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant,” Zelensky specifically stated, adding: “We are ready for a meeting with the United States at the leadership level to address sensitive issues. Issues such as territorial matters must be discussed at the leadership level.” He did not clarify whether this would include Russian President Vladimir Putin, although Zelensky has long been requesting a meeting with the Russian leader.
Zelensky: Ukraine must organize elections as soon as possible after signing the agreement – What he said about NATO membership
“We have made significant progress in finalizing the documents,” Volodymyr Zelensky stated, assuring that he would organize presidential elections after signing the agreement. As he told journalists, the new version of the document, which has been sent to Moscow for comments, stipulates that “Ukraine must organize elections as soon as possible after signing the agreement.”
The Ukrainian president also noted that the new version of the American plan does not require Ukraine to formally abandon its prospect of joining NATO, which was a major demand from Moscow. “It’s up to NATO to decide whether it wants to accept Ukraine among its members or not. And our choice has been made. We refused to revise the Ukrainian Constitution to write in it that the country will not join NATO,” he said characteristically.
According to the report, for the agreement to take effect, it must be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament and/or supported by the people of Ukraine in a referendum that may be held within 60 days.
Volodymyr Zelensky: This is the 20-point peace plan for Ukraine
Zelensky did not publish the draft document but presented the content of the plan point by point in a press conference with journalists, including AFP, in Kyiv. According to the French news agency, Kyiv’s 20-point plan is as follows:
1. Ukraine’s sovereignty will be reaffirmed. We declare that Ukraine is a sovereign state and all signatories to the agreement confirm this with their signatures.
2. This document constitutes a complete and unconditional non-aggression agreement between Russia and Ukraine. To support long-term peace, a monitoring mechanism will be created to oversee the contact line through space-based unmanned surveillance, aimed at early notification of violations and conflict resolution. Technical teams will agree on all details.
3. Ukraine will receive strong security guarantees.
4. The strength of Ukraine’s Armed Forces will remain at 800,000 people in peacetime.
5. The United States, NATO, and European states that have signed the agreement will provide Ukraine with security guarantees reflecting Article 5.
a. If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a coordinated military response, all global sanctions against Russia will be reinstated.
b. If Ukraine invades Russia or opens fire on Russian territory without provocation, the security guarantees will be considered void. If Russia opens fire against Ukraine, the security guarantees will take effect.
c. Bilateral security guarantees are not excluded from this agreement.
6. Russia will institutionalize a non-aggression policy towards Europe and Ukraine.
7. Ukraine will become a member of the European Union within a specific timeframe and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market.
8. A strong package of measures for Ukraine’s global development, which will be determined in a separate agreement for investment and future prosperity. This package will cover a wide range of economic sectors, including:
a. Creation of a Ukraine Development Fund for investments in high-growth sectors such as technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence.
b. The United States and American companies will cooperate with Ukraine and jointly invest in recovery, as well as the development, modernization, and operation of Ukraine’s natural gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities.
c. Joint efforts will be made to reconstruct areas affected by the war, aimed at restoration, rebuilding, and modernization of cities and residential areas.
d. Infrastructure development.
e. Mining of minerals and natural resources.
f. The World Bank will provide a special financing package to ensure funding that will accelerate these efforts.
g. A high-level working group will be established, including a leading global leader in the financial sector as prosperity manager, to organize the implementation of the strategic recovery plan and maximize opportunities for future prosperity.
9. Various funds will be created to address Ukraine’s economic recovery, reconstruction of destroyed areas and regions, as well as to address humanitarian issues.
a. The United States and European countries will create a capital and grant fund targeting $200 billion for transparent and effective investments in Ukraine.
b. A wide range of capital investments and other financial instruments will be used for post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Global reconstruction organizations will use mechanisms to strengthen and facilitate these efforts.
c. Ukraine will implement the best global standards to attract foreign direct investment.
d. Ukraine retains the right to compensation for the damages it has suffered.
10. After concluding this agreement, Ukraine will accelerate the process of concluding a free trade agreement with the United States.
11. Ukraine confirms that it will remain a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
12. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant will be operated jointly by three countries: Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.
13. Both countries commit to implementing educational programs in schools and throughout society that promote understanding and tolerance towards different cultures and eliminate racism and prejudice. Ukraine will implement European Union rules regarding religious tolerance and protection of minority languages.
14. In the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, the line of troop deployment on the date of this agreement is recognized de facto as the contact line.
a. We confirm de facto as parties that this is the contact line – where we are currently located.
b. A working group will be convened to determine the force redeployment necessary to end the conflict, as well as to define parameters for possible future special economic zones.
c. After achieving an equivalent basis for force movement, international forces will be deployed along the contact line to monitor compliance with this agreement. Should a decision be made to create such a zone, special approval from the Ukrainian parliament or referendum will be required.
d. The Russian Federation must withdraw its troops from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions for this agreement to take effect.
e. The parties agree to observe the rules, guarantees, and obligations of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols, which apply fully to the territory, including universally recognized human rights.
15. After reaching agreement on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to modify these agreements through the use of force.
16. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River and the Black Sea for commercial purposes.
17. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues.
a. All remaining prisoners of war, including those convicted by the Russian system from 2014 to present, will be released.
b. All detained civilians and hostages, including children and political prisoners, will be returned.
c. Measures will be taken to address the problems and suffering of victims.
18. Ukraine must conduct elections as soon as possible after signing the agreement.
19. This agreement is legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by a Peace Council chaired by President Trump. Ukraine, Europe, NATO, Russia, and the United States will participate in this mechanism. In case of violations, sanctions will be imposed.
20. Once all parties agree to this agreement, a complete ceasefire will immediately take effect.
