Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed a willingness to withdraw troops from the eastern industrial region of Donbas, contingent upon a reciprocal pullback by Russian forces and the establishment of a demilitarized, free economic zone under international supervision.
This proposal signifies a significant shift in Zelenskyy's stance, indicating potential compromises regarding the Donbas region, a critical point of contention in ongoing peace negotiations.
As reported by Breitbart, Zelenskyy also suggested a similar arrangement for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian control, emphasizing that any peace plan would require a public referendum. During a press briefing, Zelenskyy outlined a 20-point plan developed in collaboration with U.S. negotiators in Florida, although he acknowledged that many specifics remain under discussion.
Despite these efforts, Russia has shown no signs of agreeing to withdraw its troops from occupied territories, maintaining its demand for Ukraine to relinquish control over the remaining parts of Donbas, a stance Ukraine firmly rejects.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia would formulate its response based on information from Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who recently met with U.S. envoys. However, Peskov refrained from providing further details. American negotiators have been engaging separately with Ukraine and Russia since former U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a plan to end the conflict, a proposal perceived as favoring Moscow. In response, Ukraine and its European allies have been working to align the plan more closely with Kyiv's interests.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the complexity of resolving control over the Donbas region, describing it as "the most difficult point." Meanwhile, regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the U.S. has proposed a consortium involving Ukraine and Russia, with each party holding an equal stake. Zelenskyy countered with a proposal for a joint venture between the U.S. and Ukraine, allowing the Americans to decide how to distribute their share, potentially including Russia.
Despite ongoing discussions, Zelenskyy admitted that the U.S. has not yet accepted Ukraine's counterproposals. "We did not reach a consensus with the American side on the territory of the Donetsk region and on the ZNPP," Zelenskyy stated, referring to the Zaporizhzhia power plant. "But we have significantly brought most of the positions closer together. In principle, all other consensus in this agreement has been found between us and them."
The creation of a free economic zone in Donbas would necessitate challenging negotiations regarding troop withdrawal distances and the placement of international forces, which Zelenskyy believes should be addressed at the leadership level. The draft agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine also calls for the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. Zelenskyy envisions international forces stationed along specific points of the contact line within the free economic zone to ensure compliance with the agreement.
"Since there is no faith in the Russians, and they have repeatedly broken their promises, todays contact line is turning into a line of a de facto free economic zone, and international forces should be there to guarantee that no one will enter there under any guise neither little green men nor Russian military disguised as civilians," Zelenskyy asserted. Additionally, Ukraine proposes that the occupied city of Enerhodar, near the Zaporizhzhia power plant, become a demilitarized free economic zone.
Zelenskyy revealed that discussions with the U.S. on this point lasted 15 hours, yet no agreement was reached. Currently, the U.S. suggests that the plant be jointly operated by Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, with each party holding a 33% stake, a plan Zelenskyy deemed "not entirely realistic." "How can you have joint commerce with the Russians after everything?" he questioned.
Instead, Ukraine proposed that the plant be managed by a joint venture with the U.S., granting Americans the autonomy to determine energy distribution from their 50% share. Zelenskyy highlighted the need for billions in investments to restore the plant's operations, including repairing the adjacent dam.
The draft agreement guarantees Ukraine "strong" security assurances, obligating Ukraine's partners to respond in the event of renewed Russian aggression, akin to NATO's Article 5. Zelenskyy mentioned that a separate document with the U.S. would outline these guarantees in detail, specifying conditions for security provision and establishing a mechanism to monitor any ceasefire. This document will be signed concurrently with the main agreement to end the war.
"The mood of the United States of America is that this is an unprecedented step towards Ukraine on their part. They believe that they are giving strong security guarantees," Zelenskyy remarked. The draft also includes provisions for maintaining Ukraine's military at 800,000 during peacetime and securing Ukraine's membership in the European Union by a specified date, addressing a key Russian demand to limit Ukraine's military size.
The document further proposes expediting a free-trade agreement between Ukraine and the U.S., with the U.S. seeking a similar arrangement with Russia, according to Zelenskyy. Ukraine aims to secure short-term privileged access to the European market and a comprehensive global development package, including a development fund to attract foreign investment in Ukraine's industries.
Additional elements of the draft involve raising funds for Ukraine's reconstruction, targeting $800 billion through equity, grants, loans, and private sector contributions. The proposal also mandates Ukraine to hold elections following the agreement's signing. Zelenskyy's five-year term was set to conclude in May 2024, but elections were postponed due to Russia's invasion, a decision that, while legal, has been criticized by Russian President Vladimir Putin and has caused tension with Trump.
Ukraine is also requesting the immediate release of all prisoners taken since 2014, including civilian detainees, political prisoners, and children. Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in Donbas since that year underscore the urgency of these demands.
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