Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Thursday that Kyiv had sent an updated version of the peace plan to the United States. He added that the US is insisting on the creation of a demilitarized “free economic zone” between Russian and Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine as part of a settlement to the war conflict. The British station BBC reported about it, writes TASR.
In short:
- Ukraine sent the US a new version of its peace plan
- The US proposed a demilitarized economic zone in eastern Ukraine
- Russia could move its troops from selected areas
- The Ukrainian compromise on the territory is to be decided by a popular vote
“They see Ukrainian forces leaving the territory of the Donetsk region. The alleged compromise is that Russian troops will not enter this territory, which they already call a ‘free economic zone,'” Zelenskyy told reporters at a briefing in Kyiv.
Russia and territorial compromise
Russia would not have to withdraw from the Donetsk region or its positions in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions in southern Ukraine, but would withdraw its troops from the parts of the Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk and Sumy regions that it currently controls, Zelenskyy added.
According to the Ukrainian leader, the future status of the Donetsk region and control over the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant are two key contentious issues in negotiations with Washington, reports AFP. “These are two topics that we continue to discuss,” Zelenskyy confirmed.
Decision by popular vote
At the same time, the Ukrainian president emphasized that any potential compromise regarding the territory should be decided by popular vote in Ukraine.
“I believe that the Ukrainian people will answer this question. Whether through elections or a referendum, the Ukrainian people must make their position known,” Zelenskyy said.
Meeting of leaders in Paris
Citing a White House spokesman and an unnamed Ukrainian official, Axios news website reported that US officials will meet with representatives of Ukraine, France, Germany and the UK in Paris on Saturday to discuss US President Donald Trump’s “peace plan”.
The meeting in Paris follows a phone call between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday.
Details of the peace plan
According to the website Axios, the updated peace plan that Ukraine submitted to the United States includes new proposals to resolve territorial disputes, including the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control.
