Russia rejects 20-point peace plan as Moscow intensifies attacks ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy summit

Moscow has firmly rejected a 20-point peace plan presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and aligned with the United States, while simultaneously escalating military strikes on Ukraine just hours before a pivotal meeting between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a sharp diplomatic setback, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov dismissed the plan as announced by Zelenskyy as “radically” incompatible with a separate framework Russia claims was discussed with U.S. officials earlier this month. Ryabkov stressed Moscow’s insistence on adhering to parameters from prior Anchorage talks, describing any deviation as potentially fatal to negotiations.

Ukraine unveils the 20-point peace proposal under discussion with the U.S.

Compounding tensions, Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles targeting Kyiv and other regions overnight into Saturday, on the eve of the Mar-a-Lago summit scheduled for Sunday, at 21 hours CET.

Zelenskyy to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday as Ukraine peace plan nears completion

Explosions echoed across the capital as air defences engaged incoming threats, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting drones and missiles aimed at Kyiv, northeastern, and southern areas. While no immediate casualties or significant damage in Kyiv were reported, the assault followed strikes on energy infrastructure the previous night and intensified attacks on the southern port region of Odesa. Russia offered no immediate comment on the operation, underscoring a pattern of heightened aggression amid ongoing peace efforts.

Zelenskyy detailed the 20-point plan on 24 December as a comprehensive blueprint for ending the war, involving Ukraine, the U.S., Europe, and Russia. Key elements include provisions for simultaneous presidential elections and a national referendum following 90 days of preparation, as outlined by parliamentary leader Davyd Arakhamia. Zelenskyy has emphasized that any vote on territorial matters would necessitate a 60-day Russian ceasefire to allow safe participation. Ukrainian lawmakers are examining options for conducting elections and referendums under martial law, including hybrid formats, with a dedicated working group potentially led by Oleksandr Kornienko and inclusive of opposition voices.

The timing of Russia’s military escalation and diplomatic rebuff casts a shadow over Zelenskyy’s Florida visit. In an Axios interview, Zelenskyy disclosed a U.S. offer of 15-year security guarantees for Ukraine, renewable but falling short of Kyiv’s demands for longer, legally binding protections. “I think we need more than 15 years,” he stated, signalling his intent to negotiate extended terms at Mar-a-Lago. Bilateral U.S.-Ukraine agreements are nearing completion across multiple documents, with only minor technical issues pending.

Central to Ukraine’s 20-point peace plan is a provision for a nationwide referendum that would allow citizens to accept or reject any proposed territorial changes resulting from negotiations.

Zelenskyy has emphasized that such a vote would be essential for complex decisions involving Ukraine’s territories, particularly amid Russia’s demands for Kyiv to withdraw from the entire Donetsk region.

Zelenskyy has expressed openness to submitting the entire plan to a referendum if a negotiated deal proves elusive, arguing that this democratic mechanism would strengthen Ukraine’s position while ensuring public buy-in on sensitive issues like border adjustments or economic zones proposed as compromises by the U.S.

However, he insists that Russia must commit to a ceasefire of at least 60 days to create safe conditions for the vote, highlighting the risks posed by ongoing hostilities and the damage to infrastructure that has left only about 75% of polling stations operational.

The plan also calls for simultaneous presidential elections to be held alongside the referendum, following a 90-day preparation period.

A special parliamentary working group, potentially led by Oleksandr Kornienko and including opposition representatives, is actively exploring ways to conduct these elections under martial law, including hybrid voting systems that could combine in-person and remote options to accommodate displaced voters and security challenges.

Zelenskyy has stressed that international partners, including the U.S. and Europe, must first provide robust security guarantees and infrastructure support to safeguard the electoral process, underscoring that elections cannot proceed without resolving these foundational issues.

These electoral and referendum elements underscore the precarious balance in the peace talks, as Ukraine seeks to legitimize any agreement through democratic means while facing Russia’s rejection of the plan and intensified military pressure.

As the war nears its fourth year, Moscow’s demands for “substantial changes” to the U.S.-Ukraine framework, coupled with continued battlefield pressure, highlight profound obstacles. Russia shows no signs of backing down from its maximalist initial positions, which effectively amount to transforming Ukraine into a vassal state.

Caption: Ukrainian experts work near the site of a Russian glide-bomb strike in a central district of Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, 26 December 2025, amid the Russian invasion. At least two people were killed and six were injured, including a mother and her six-month-old baby, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported. EPA/SERGEY KOZLOV