Key Takeaways
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposes a demilitarized zone in the Donbas region as part of a plan to end Russia’s war
- The zone would be monitored by international forces and would require Russian troops to withdraw
- The US has proposed a joint venture to manage the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with Ukraine and Russia having equal stakes
- Ukraine is seeking strong security guarantees, including a mechanism to monitor any ceasefire and a commitment from partners to act in the event of renewed Russian aggression
- The draft proposal includes elements such as keeping Ukraine’s army at 800,000 during peacetime, making Ukraine a member of the European Union, and accelerating a free-trade agreement between Ukraine and the US
Introduction to the Peace Plan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, which includes the creation of a demilitarized zone in the Donbas region. The zone would be monitored by international forces and would require Russian troops to withdraw. This proposal is part of a 20-point plan that negotiators from Ukraine and the US hammered out in Florida in recent days. Zelenskyy stated that figuring out control of the Donbas region is "the most difficult point" in the peace negotiations.
The Demilitarized Zone
The demilitarized zone in the Donbas region would require difficult discussions on how far troops would be required to move back and where international forces would be stationed. Zelenskyy said that it should be discussed at the leaders’ level. The working US-Ukraine draft also proposes that Russian forces withdraw from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. Zelenskyy envisions that international forces could be located along certain points of the contact line within the zone to monitor the implementation of the agreement.
Managing the Zaporizhzhia Power Plant
Ukraine also proposes that the occupied city of Enerhodar, which is the closest city to the Zaporizhzhia power plant, become a demilitarized free economic zone. This point required 15 hours of discussions with the US, and no agreement was reached. The US proposes that the plant be jointly operated by Ukraine, the US, and Russia, with each side controlling a 33% stake in the enterprise. However, Zelenskyy called this plan "not entirely realistic" and instead suggested that the plant be operated by a joint venture with the US, in which the Americans can determine independently how to distribute the energy from their 50% share.
Security Guarantees
The working draft ensures that Ukraine will receive "strong" security guarantees that would require Ukraine’s partners to act in the event of renewed Russian aggression. This would mirror NATO’s Article 5, which says an armed attack on one member of the alliance is an attack on all. Zelenskyy said that a separate document with the US will outline these guarantees, detailing the conditions under which security will be provided, particularly in the event of another Russian assault, and establishing a mechanism to monitor any ceasefire.
Economic and Political Reforms
The draft proposal includes elements such as keeping Ukraine’s army at 800,000 during peacetime, making Ukraine a member of the European Union, and accelerating a free-trade agreement between Ukraine and the US. Ukraine would like to receive short-term privileged access to the European market and a robust global development package that would include the creation of a development fund to solicit outside investment in Ukraine’s industries. The draft proposal also requires Ukraine to hold elections after the signing of the agreement and to release all prisoners taken since 2014.
Recent Developments
In other developments, an explosion in Moscow on Wednesday killed three people, including two police officers, Russian investigators said, days after a car bomb killed a high-ranking general not far away. An official from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said that the attack had been carried out as part of an agency operation. The official said that the police officers had taken part in Russia’s war in Ukraine, without providing details. The situation in Ukraine remains complex, with ongoing negotiations and developments that could impact the outcome of the peace talks.