On December 24, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stood before a room of journalists in Kyiv, animatedly outlining the details of a new, U.S.-backed 20-point plan aimed at ending the war that has ravaged Ukraine for nearly four years. This latest diplomatic push, hammered out between U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators and now sitting on Moscow’s desk for review, reflects months of high-stakes bargaining and international pressure. While the plan offers some notable concessions to Ukraine, it leaves critical questions unresolved—especially regarding territorial control and whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will accept the terms.
According to AFP and France 24, the plan is the most detailed and serious attempt yet by Washington to broker a ceasefire before the 2026 U.S. presidential election, with President Donald Trump eager to burnish his credentials as a global peacemaker. The proposal, which Zelenskyy presented in a highlighted and annotated document during his two-hour briefing, removes immediate requirements for Ukraine to withdraw from the Donetsk region or to formally recognize land seized by Moscow as Russian. It also drops the contentious demand that Kyiv must legally renounce its NATO ambitions—a sticking point in previous negotiations.
“There are some points I don’t like,” Zelenskyy admitted candidly, as reported by bne IntelliNews. But he was quick to highlight what Ukraine had achieved: “We succeeded in removing immediate withdrawal obligations and a clause that would have recognized Russian control over occupied territories.” The plan, he said, now allows for options Ukraine was previously reluctant to consider, such as the establishment of demilitarized zones and the potential creation of "free economic zones" in contested areas.
One of the most significant features is the de facto recognition of current troop positions in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions as the "line of contact." A working group is to be convened to determine the redeployment of forces necessary to end the conflict and to define the parameters of possible future special economic zones. This approach, according to Zelenskyy, is an attempt to satisfy both sides without forcing Ukraine into a humiliating withdrawal. “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,” he said. “They are looking for a demilitarized zone or a free economic zone—a format that could satisfy both sides.”
Yet, the plan is far from a done deal. The Kremlin, as of December 24, was still "formulating its position," with spokesman Dmitry Peskov declining to comment on specifics. Putin, for his part, has shown little willingness to compromise, maintaining hardline demands for sweeping Ukrainian withdrawal and a suite of political concessions that Kyiv and its European backers have long rejected. Russian officials have also criticized European and Ukrainian efforts to amend the original U.S. plan, which had previously enshrined many of Moscow’s demands.
The 20-point plan, as outlined by Zelenskyy and corroborated by France 24, reaffirms Ukraine’s sovereignty and commits all signatories to a full and unconditional non-aggression agreement. It calls for the establishment of a monitoring mechanism—including space-based unmanned surveillance—to oversee the line of contact and ensure early notification of any violations. The Armed Forces of Ukraine would remain at 800,000 personnel in peacetime, and the U.S., NATO, and European signatories would provide Ukraine with security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5. Should Russia invade, all global sanctions would be reinstated; should Ukraine attack Russia without provocation, the security guarantees would be voided.
Further, the plan commits Russia to formalize a policy of non-aggression toward Europe and Ukraine in its laws. Ukraine would be set on a path to European Union membership within a defined period and would gain privileged access to European markets. A massive $200 billion capital and grants fund, to be established by the U.S. and European countries, would support Ukraine’s economic recovery and reconstruction—targeting investments in technology, infrastructure, and the rebuilding of war-damaged cities.
On the thorny issue of territories, the plan recognizes the current line of troop deployment as of the agreement date in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Any creation of demilitarized or special economic zones would require approval by the Ukrainian parliament or a national referendum. Notably, Russia must withdraw its troops from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions for the agreement to take effect—a significant ask, given Moscow’s current military posture.
Another major point is the fate of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, which remains under Russian control. The plan proposes joint management by Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, but Zelenskyy has made clear his opposition to any Russian oversight. “We do not want any Russian oversight of the facility,” he emphasized during his press conference, echoing concerns about nuclear safety and sovereignty.
The plan also addresses humanitarian concerns, calling for the establishment of a committee to oversee an all-for-all prisoner exchange and the return of detained civilians, including children and political prisoners. Both sides would commit to adhering to the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols, ensuring the protection of human rights across all affected territories.
Importantly, Ukraine would hold presidential elections as soon as possible after the agreement is signed—a provision supported by both Putin and Trump. The deal’s implementation would be monitored and guaranteed by a Peace Council chaired by President Trump, with participation from Ukraine, Europe, NATO, Russia, and the U.S. Sanctions would apply in the event of violations, and a full ceasefire would take effect immediately once all parties sign on.
The negotiations leading up to this plan have been complex, involving not only U.S. and Ukrainian envoys but also back-channel talks with Russian representatives. The European Union, notably, has been largely sidelined, with its suggestions ignored in favor of a more direct U.S.-Russia-Ukraine framework. As bne IntelliNews reports, the talks have zeroed in on the two biggest sticking points: land and security guarantees for a post-war Ukraine. The hope is that this plan, if accepted, could reshape Europe’s security architecture and set Ukraine on a path to recovery—but only if it withstands domestic and international scrutiny.
As the world waits for Moscow’s response, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The plan offers a glimmer of hope for an end to a brutal conflict, but its success hinges on the willingness of all sides to compromise—and on the ability of leaders to sell difficult concessions to their people. For now, the war grinds on, with Russian troops still advancing and Ukrainian cities still under threat. But for the first time in months, there is at least a roadmap—however fraught—to a possible peace.
