On Thursday, December 11, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled a revised 20-point framework to the United States aimed at ending the conflict with Russia. The move comes as both sides haggle over key issues: the future of Donetsk and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
“We have two key points of disagreement: the territories of Donetsk and everything related to them, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Zelenskyy explained. Under the U.S. proposal, Ukrainian forces would withdraw from parts of Donetsk, while Russian troops would be barred from entering this area, potentially designated as a “free economic zone.” 🤔
Zelenskyy stressed he has no “constitutional” or “moral” right to cede Ukrainian land and insisted that any decision must come from the people of Ukraine. “Whether through elections or a referendum, there must be a position from the people of Ukraine,” he said, emphasizing national sovereignty. 🇺🇦
The broader peace plan includes separate documents on security guarantees. Kyiv, wary after past letdowns, demands these guarantees be ratified by Parliament. The latest draft even ups the size of Ukraine’s post-war army to 800,000 troops, a significant increase from earlier versions. 💪
On the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s call for Ukraine to become neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear—a proposal Kyiv sees as a starting point but not a final solution. Meanwhile, Washington is pressing Ukraine to reach a deal swiftly, with reports of an informal Christmas deadline, though Zelenskyy says no strict timeline has been set. ⏳
Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in from the Oval Office, stating that the U.S. might send a representative to Europe this weekend if there’s a good chance of progress on a ceasefire. “We don’t want to waste time if it’s negative,” he said.
As shuttle diplomacy intensifies, Ukraine seeks to balance a 28-point U.S.-backed plan seen by Kyiv as too favorable to Moscow. With high stakes and time ticking, the world watches to see if these renewed efforts can finally bring peace to the region. 🕊️
Reference(s):
Ukraine presents U.S. revised framework to end conflict with Russia
cgtn.com
