Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has given details of an updated peace plan that offers Russia the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the east that Moscow has demanded.
Giving details of the 20-point plan agreed by US and Ukrainian negotiators in Florida at the weekend, Zelensky said the Russians would give their response once the Americans had spoken to them.
Describing the plan as 'the main framework for ending the war', Zelensky said it proposed security guarantees from the US, NATO and Europeans for a coordinated military response if Russia invaded Ukraine again.
On the key question of Ukraine's eastern Donbas, Zelensky noted a 'free economic zone' as a possible solution.
The 20-point plan is seen as an update of an original 28-point document, agreed by the US envoy with the Russians several weeks ago, which was widely perceived as heavily geared towards the Kremlin's demands.
The Russians have insisted that Ukraine withdraw from almost a quarter of its own territory in the eastern Donetsk region in return for a peace deal, with the rest under Russian occupation.
Zelensky indicated that, as Ukraine opposes withdrawal, US negotiators are looking to establish a demilitarized zone or a free economic zone. He stated, 'There are two options: either the war continues, or something will have to be decided regarding all potential economic zones.'
He emphasized that an economic zone should also be around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant currently occupied by Russia, and that Russian troops must withdraw from four other regions: Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv.
Giving details of the 20-point plan agreed by US and Ukrainian negotiators in Florida at the weekend, Zelensky said the Russians would give their response once the Americans had spoken to them.
Describing the plan as 'the main framework for ending the war', Zelensky said it proposed security guarantees from the US, NATO and Europeans for a coordinated military response if Russia invaded Ukraine again.
On the key question of Ukraine's eastern Donbas, Zelensky noted a 'free economic zone' as a possible solution.
The 20-point plan is seen as an update of an original 28-point document, agreed by the US envoy with the Russians several weeks ago, which was widely perceived as heavily geared towards the Kremlin's demands.
The Russians have insisted that Ukraine withdraw from almost a quarter of its own territory in the eastern Donetsk region in return for a peace deal, with the rest under Russian occupation.
Zelensky indicated that, as Ukraine opposes withdrawal, US negotiators are looking to establish a demilitarized zone or a free economic zone. He stated, 'There are two options: either the war continues, or something will have to be decided regarding all potential economic zones.'
He emphasized that an economic zone should also be around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant currently occupied by Russia, and that Russian troops must withdraw from four other regions: Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv.
