Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed “new ideas” for peace after a nearly hour-long call with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, expressing optimism that the discussions could bring a real peace closer. The conversation, which took place on Thursday, focused on formats, meetings, and timing for potential negotiations to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Zelensky’s positive assessment came a day after he detailed an updated 20-point peace plan agreed upon by US and Ukrainian envoys during talks in Florida. He described the call as productive, yielding fresh approaches to advancing the peace process. The Ukrainian leader also took the opportunity to send Christmas greetings to US President Donald Trump and his family, underscoring the diplomatic nature of the engagement.
The 20-point plan is seen as a revision of an earlier draft prepared by Witkoff, which had been criticized for leaning too heavily towards Russia’s pre-invasion demands. The updated version aims to balance Ukraine’s security concerns with practical steps towards de-escalation. It proposes the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from eastern regions and the establishment of demilitarized zones, coupled with robust security guarantees from the United States, NATO, and European allies.
A key element of the proposal involves the Donetsk region, where Moscow currently controls about 75% of the territory. Zelensky suggested that a “free economic zone” could be an option, but stressed that any areas vacated by Ukrainian forces would remain under Ukrainian policing authority. This reflects Kyiv’s stance against territorial concessions, even as it faces pressure from the Trump administration to cede the entire Donbas region to Russia.
The Kremlin has responded cautiously, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that Moscow is analyzing proposals brought back from the US by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. He indicated that further communication with the Americans would depend on decisions by President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must leave Donbas, or Russia will seize it, highlighting the high stakes in the negotiations.
While diplomatic efforts inch forward, fighting continues unabated on the ground. The Ukrainian military reported striking a key Russian oil refinery in the Rostov region with cruise missiles, targeting fuel supplies for Russian operations. Conversely, the Russian defense ministry announced the capture of the settlement of Sviato-Pokrovske in Donetsk, following Ukraine’s withdrawal from the town of Siversk earlier this week.
These military developments underscore the urgency of the peace talks, as Russia edges closer to strategic cities like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Zelensky acknowledged that sensitive issues remain unresolved but expressed confidence that, together with the American team, a path forward can be established. He has tasked Ukraine’s top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, with continuing discussions with the US envoys.
The progress in talks marks a significant, albeit fragile, step towards potentially ending a war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. With both sides engaged in dialogue and the international community watching closely, the coming days will be critical in determining whether these new ideas can translate into a sustainable peace agreement or if the conflict will persist.
