The president of Ukraine, , presented to journalists one of the 20 points. This plan was based on an initial American draft with 28 points, which would have effectively led to her capitulation. From what Zelensky said, it appears that Ukraine is now open to holding elections at the same time as a referendum on the approval of the peace agreement, based on the plan he presented and which the Russian side will receive from the Americans today.
Based on what was said, a plan to provide tripartite security guarantees from Ukraine, the US and Europe, as well as a bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and the US, has also been developed. Yet another document focuses on economic cooperation between Kyiv and Washington and is described as a “road map for Ukraine’s prosperity.”
Today in Moscow the Ukrainian plan, what follows
According to Ukrainian media, this plan will be received by Moscow today, and if approved, then a final document will have to be signed by the leaders of Ukraine, the US, Europe and Russia. The signatories on the European side have not yet been determined.
The Ukrainian side claims that with the signing of the agreement, a truce is expected to come into effect immediately. To enter into force, the agreement must be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament, but also receive the approval of the people of Ukraine through a referendum to be held within 60 days (probably together with the elections).
There is still a disagreement with the US over Zaporizhia and Donbass
So far, Ukraine and the US have not reached an agreement on two key points of the revised plan. More specifically, it concerns points 12 and 14, that is, the control of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and the control of the Donbass region, which has been affected by the war since 2014. The text of the agreement does not make any mention of Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO.
The 20 points of the Plan
These are all the points of the plan that Zelensky made public:
- The signatories confirm that Ukraine is a sovereign state.
- The document constitutes a complete and unquestionable non-aggression agreement between Russia and Ukraine. A conflict line monitoring mechanism will be established using satellite unmanned surveillance for early detection of violations.
- Ukraine will receive security guarantees.
- The size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will remain at 800,000 in peacetime.
- The US, NATO and signatory European states will provide Ukraine with “Article 5” type guarantees. The following apply:
1) If Russia invades Ukraine, a coordinated military response will be triggered and all global sanctions against Russia will be reinstated.
2) If Ukraine invades Russia or fires into Russian territory without provocation, the security guarantees will be considered void. If Russia attacks Ukraine, security guarantees will be triggered.
3) The US will receive compensation for providing security guarantees. (This provision has been removed.)
4) Previous bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and about 30 countries will remain in force.
- Russia will institutionalize its non-aggression stance towards Europe and Ukraine in all necessary laws and documents, ratifying them through the State Duma.
- Ukraine will become a member of the EU at a set point in time and will have short-term preferential access to the European market.
“To date, the timetable for Ukraine’s accession is a bilateral discussion between the US and Ukraine, with no confirmation from Europe at this time,” Zelensky said.
“Joining the European Union is also a security guarantee and that’s why we want to set a date — for example 2027 or 2028.”
- Ukraine will receive a global development package, detailed in a separate agreement, covering several economic sectors:
1) Creation of a growth fund to invest in fast-growing sectors such as technology, data centers and artificial intelligence.
2) The US and US companies will work with Ukraine to restore, modernize and operate natural gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities.
3) Joint efforts to rebuild war-affected areas, focusing on the rehabilitation and modernization of cities and homes.
4) Priority in infrastructure development.
5) Expansion of mineral and natural resource extraction.
6) The World Bank will provide a special financing package to accelerate these efforts.
7) Establishing a high-level team, with the appointment of a leading global economic expert as a welfare manager to monitor the implementation of the strategic recovery plan and future welfare.
- Creation of funds to restore the Ukrainian economy, rebuild affected areas, and address humanitarian issues, with the goal of raising $800 billion in estimated war damage costs.
- Speeding up negotiations for a free trade agreement with the US.
- Ukraine reaffirms its commitment to remain a non-nuclear country, in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
- Inspection of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant and restoration of the Kahofka Hydroelectric Power Station.
The US is proposing joint operation of the Zaporizhia plant by Ukraine, Russia and the US, with 33% for each country, with the US as the main supervisor.
Ukraine opposes Russian control of the plant and proposes management by a US-Ukraine joint venture, with 50% of the electricity generated going to areas under Ukrainian control and the US managing the remaining 50%.
“We believe that in order to do all this safely, the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, the city of Ergondar and the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station must be demilitarized, because at the moment there are Russian troops and war, and there is not the necessary level of security,” Zelensky said.
- Ukraine and Russia will introduce school programs that promote understanding and tolerance of different cultures, combat racism and prejudice. Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and protection of minority languages.
- In the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, the line of military positions on the date of signature will be recognized as the de facto front line.
1) Determining troop movements for the end of the war and creating possible “free economic zones”, with the withdrawal of Russian troops.
2) Russia must withdraw its troops from occupied regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kharkiv for the agreement to take effect.
3) International forces will be stationed along the front line to monitor the implementation of the agreement.
4) The parties agree to follow the rules of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols, including universal human rights.
“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 for us not to withdraw because we are against withdrawal,” Zelensky said. “They are thinking of a demilitarized zone or a free economic zone, that is, a form that satisfies both sides. We consider the free economic zone as a possibility for a sovereign state to choose. We are fighting over one word — “contingent.” We believe that such potential economic zones can exist,” he added.
- Russia and Ukraine pledge not to use force to change territorial arrangements and will resolve disputes through diplomatic means.
- Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River and the Black Sea for commercial purposes. There will be a separate maritime agreement ensuring freedom of navigation and transport, with the demilitarization of the Kinburn Peninsula under Russian control.
- Creation of a humanitarian committee that will ensure:
1) Exchange all prisoners.
2) Release all prisoners, including children and political prisoners.
3) Taking measures to deal with the problems and to relieve the victims of the conflict.
- Ukraine must hold presidential elections as soon as possible after signing the agreement.
- The agreement will be legally binding and its implementation will be monitored by the Peace Council, chaired by Trump. Ukraine, Europe, NATO, Russia and the USA will participate in the monitoring. Violations will result in penalties.
- The truce will go into effect as soon as all parties agree to the deal.
It is noted that the Russian media does not seem particularly positive about some of the predictions of the presented plan.
