The United States has stepped up diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the nearly three-year-long Russia–Ukraine war, holding parallel talks with both Moscow and Kyiv as it searches for a workable peace framework.
US President Donald Trump has assigned his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, along with his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to lead the discussions. Through their engagement, Washington has broadened negotiations with representatives from both countries, focusing on achieving a ceasefire and ensuring long-term stability.
Trump had previously suggested that a peace deal could be finalized before Christmas. However, that timeline passed without an agreement, largely due to continued disagreements over the most sensitive issue: territorial control.
Territorial disputes remain the main obstacle
Russia has insisted that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region, claiming the area is under its control. Ukraine disputes this, arguing that the territory has not been completely lost.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that Kyiv cannot accept territorial concessions made under pressure. In an effort to move the talks forward, the Trump administration has proposed converting disputed areas into either a demilitarized zone or a special economic zone. Ukraine has indicated it is open to considering the idea, while Russia has yet to provide a formal response.
The future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, also remains unresolved. The facility is currently under Russian military control. Ukraine has proposed establishing a special economic zone around the plant, but Moscow has not agreed to the proposal.
Ukraine backs revised US peace plan
According to The New York Times, Ukraine has already accepted a newly drafted 20-point peace plan prepared by the United States. President Zelenskyy has confirmed that the proposal has been formally shared with Russia for review.
The revised plan differs sharply from an earlier 28-point proposal presented last month. That earlier version drew criticism for favoring Russia, including provisions that would have required Ukraine to give up occupied territory, reduce the size of its military, and abandon its NATO ambitions. European allies voiced strong concerns, prompting Washington to revise the framework.
Zelenskyy has described the updated proposal as more balanced and more favorable to Ukraine. Under the revised plan, Ukraine would retain its current military strength of around 800,000 troops even in peacetime. The cost of maintaining the force would be shared by the United States and European partners.
The proposal also outlines security guarantees, including a bilateral security agreement between Washington and Kyiv, approval by the US Congress, and coordinated air, land, and naval support from European countries.
Several European nations have signaled a willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of post-war security arrangements, though Russia has strongly opposed the presence of foreign forces on Ukrainian territory.
Reconstruction, security, and unresolved questions
Post-war reconstruction is a central element of the plan. It includes the creation of a “Ukraine Development Fund” to attract investment in high-growth sectors such as technology, data centers, artificial intelligence, energy, and infrastructure.
The proposal also calls for cooperation between US and Ukrainian companies on reconstruction projects and prioritizes access to Ukraine’s mineral and natural resources. To support long-term recovery, the plan envisions mobilizing up to $800 billion through multiple international funds managed by globally recognized financial institutions.
The plan further commits to the release of all prisoners of war and detained civilians, the establishment of monitoring mechanisms along the contact line to prevent ceasefire violations, and the holding of national elections as soon as possible after a peace agreement is signed.
Despite progress on several issues, agreement on territorial control lines remains out of reach. Zelenskyy has said the United States is exploring options such as demilitarized zones or special economic regions as possible compromises.
He has emphasized that the issue is so sensitive it must be addressed through direct talks at the leadership level with President Trump. “This is an extremely important and sensitive matter,” Zelenskyy said. “Questions of territory must be settled at the highest political level.”
The 20-point proposal will now be reviewed in Moscow, after which the next steps will be determined. Zelenskyy has warned that if a comprehensive agreement covering all disputed areas cannot be reached, the war may continue, or alternative arrangements—particularly related to economic zones—may need to be pursued.
