EditZelenskyy details U.S. ‘free zone’ compromise as Trump keeps pressure for peace deal
Trump said the U.S. would participate in a Saturday meeting in Paris with European partners "if there is a high probability of moving something”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday disclosed a U.S. proposal for a “free economic zone” in Ukraine-controlled parts of eastern Donbas as a potential compromise in exchange for territorial concessions to Russia, while emphasizing that no common understanding yet exists on land issues and that any such decisions must go to a national referendum.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Kyiv has presented Washington with a revised 20-point framework responding to a 28-point U.S.-backed plan seen as favorable to Moscow. On Donbas, where Russia demands full control, the U.S. envisions Ukrainian troops withdrawing from the Donetsk region, with Russian forces barred from entering – creating what Moscow calls a “demilitarized zone.”
“They do not know who will govern this territory,” Zelenskyy noted, highlighting governance uncertainties.
The plan also includes Russian withdrawals from limited areas in northeastern Kharkiv and Sumy, as well as southeastern Dnipropetrovsk, while freezing contact lines in partially occupied southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
Zelenskyy said there was still no common understanding on the land issue and that Ukrainians should vote on any territorial concessions in a referendum.
Another key point: potential joint governance of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Europe’s largest facility, currently under Russian occupation – though Zelenskyy stressed this remains unresolved, with Moscow insisting on sole control.
Christmas deadline?
Zelenskyy, following reports that President Donald Trump had set a Christmas deadline for Ukraine to accept the peace proposal, said Washington had not given Kyiv a strict timeline.
“I think they really wanted, or perhaps still want, to have a complete understanding of where we stand with this agreement by Christmas,” he said.
Apart from a 20-point framework, the general peace plan will include separate documents on security guarantees, to prevent Russia from attacking again, and on rebuilding Ukraine’s war-hit cities.
Ukraine, which says it has been let down by previous security assurances from allies, insists that guarantees are ratified in parliament.
Trump sees Zelenskyy as obstacle
In Washington, President Donald Trump told reporters the U.S. remains ready to support a future peacekeeping mission, including intelligence and air defence, as “an important element in ending the war.” He described the deal as a “complex real estate deal multiplied by a thousand,” comprising four to five parts.
In this context, he criticised Zelenskyy:
“I thought we were very close to an agreement with Russia. And close to an agreement with Ukraine. Apart from Zelenskyy, his people really like the concept of this agreement.”
Trump confirmed a Saturday meeting in Paris with European partners involved, saying the U.S. would participate “if there is a high probability of moving something,” to “save a lot of lives.”
He added that the US has already spent “300-350 billion dollars” to support Ukraine, but “has received nothing in return,” although it has managed to gain access to rare earth minerals.
Trump again warned of the dangers of global escalation: “If we keep playing with these things, it’s going to end up in World War III. We don’t want that to happen.”
According to him, just last month, “25,000 people, mostly military, but also civilians, died in the war.”
With Reuters and Suspilne, edited by g.g.
Caption: US President Donald J. Trump arrives to the Congressional Ball in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 11 December 2025. EPA/SHAWN THEW / POOL
Updated: December 12, 2025 - 07:36
