On December 11, at a press conference in the capital Kiev, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced important details about the new peace plan that the US is proposing.
Accordingly, the US wants the Ukrainian army to withdraw from the Donbass region to establish a "free economic zone" in the territories that Kiev currently controls. This is seen as a new thoalization, different from previous suggestions for a direct handover of the territory to Russia.
In this scenario, when the Ukrainian army withdraws, the Russian side will also commit not to advance into the newly established buffer zone.
Responding to the proposal, the Ukrainian leader expressed skepticism about the reality of buffer zone governance. He questioned who would actually take control of the so-called "free economic zone" or "non-military zone."
Mr Zelensky stressed that if there is a lack of a mechanism for monitoring and ensuring solid security, the withdrawal will create a dangerous space for the enemy to take over the area in various forms. He affirmed that Ukraine is ready for negotiations, but any thoalization must be fair and transparent.
In particular, President Zelensky has clearly stated the legal process for sovereignty issues. He affirmed that if the government agrees with any option related to the territorial transfer, this must be approved by a popular vote or election. According to him, only Ukrainians have the Supreme People's Power to decide the fate of national territory, not any political leader.
This development comes as the pressure from the Trump administration is increasing strongly. The White House press secretary revealed that Mr. Trump has been "sick from meaningless meetings" and hopes to see a real result at the negotiation table. The US side is pushing both sides to soon find a common voice to end the conflict.
In response, the Ukrainian negotiating team sent the revised plan to the US on December 10. However, major disagreements remain, especially the control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and specific territorial boundaries.
Meanwhile, in Europe, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a serious warning about regional security. He said that if Russia achieves its goal in Ukraine, Europe could face the risk of a large-scale conflict in the next 5 years.
EU leaders also expressed their view that, despite their desire for peace, they will not force Ukraine to accept terms that the country's people disagree with after four years of fierce conflict.
