Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a media conference at the EU Summit in Brussel. (AP Photo) Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given the details about the peace plan being discussed to end the nearly four year old war which started after Russia invaded Kyiv and the updated plan reportedly offers Russia the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern region which the Kremlin has long demanded.
The talks between US and Ukrainian delegations, which have been ongoing in Florida, have reached a consensus on several critical issues, however, Zelenskyy has said that certain issues like territorial control in the country’s eastern industrial heartland and the management of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains unresolved, Associated Press reported.
Providing details of the 20-point peace plan sponsored by US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy said the Russians would respond to the plan by Wednesday after the American delegation speaks to them. Zelenskyy described the plan as “the main framework for ending the war” as it promises security guarantees from the US, NATO and Europeans for a co-ordinated military response if Russia invades Ukraine again.
Zelenskyy, while categorically mentioning about the eastern territorial issue, said that Ukraine wasn’t ready to withdraw from the region and US negotiators have said that they are looking to establish a demilitarised zone or a free economic zone in the area. He added that any area where Ukraine pulls out would have to be policed by Kyiv itself.
“There are two options: either the war continues, or something will have to be decided regarding all potential economic zones,” Zelenskyy said.
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The 20-point peace plan is being seen as an updated version of the original 28-point document which was agreed by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian delegation a few weeks ago, but it was widely seen as bending largely towards Kremlin’s demands.
Ukraine has also insisted that any change in the status quo like withdrawal of Ukrainians from the eastern region or any other arrangement like a demilitarised zone must be contingent upon a referendum, allowing the Ukrainian people to determine their own fate.
(with inputs from AP)
