Ukraine and United States edge toward peace plan amid European unease

Thursday 11 December 2025 - 10:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Ukraine and United States edge toward peace plan amid European unease

Ukraine and its European allies have refined a comprehensive peace proposal initially presented by the United States, narrowing it from 28 points to a 20-point framework. The plan, soon to be delivered to Washington, outlines Ukraine’s path to full sovereignty, European Union accession by 2027, and long-term security guarantees supported by transatlantic partners.

A new framework for peace

The draft envisions establishing a demilitarized zone along the current frontline stretching from Donetsk to Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. This buffer area would prevent deployment of heavy weapons and remain under constant international observation. The proposal seeks to stabilize conditions while allowing Ukraine to retain control of its military and political infrastructure.

Territorial concessions remain the most divisive issue. Washington reportedly favors a limited recognition of Russian control over 25 percent of Donetsk to speed up negotiations, but Kyiv resists any such compromises. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that yielding land would violate both domestic and international law, arguing the nation holds no moral or constitutional right to surrender its territory.

Reconstruction and security guarantees

Discussions with the visiting US delegation, including senior officials and investment executives, focused on Ukraine’s economic recovery. The plan envisions financing reconstruction through more than $200 billion in frozen Russian assets, combined with new investment mechanisms designed to attract up to $400 billion in additional funds.

One key proposal places the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant under international or US supervision, a move believed to strengthen deterrence against future aggressions. Under the emerging framework, Ukraine would maintain a strong military, roughly 800,000 troops, while receiving legally binding security assurances from the United States similar to NATO’s Article 5. These guarantees would be supplemented by separate commitments from European nations.

European solidarity and transatlantic strain

Efforts to finalize the peace plan have underscored growing strategic frictions between Washington and leading European capitals. Zelensky’s recent tour of London, Brussels, and Rome included meetings with prominent European leaders, as well as an audience with Pope Leo XIV, all aimed at coordinating regional positions before presenting the plan to Washington.

The Vatican urged that Europe remain fully engaged in the peace process, describing any agreement excluding the continent as "unrealistic". European Union officials have echoed that sentiment, reaffirming that peace terms must have Ukraine’s full consent and European representation.

Meanwhile, comments from the White House have triggered concern in Kyiv. President Trump described Russia as holding “the upper hand” and urged compromises, prompting Ukrainian officials to accuse Washington of exerting pressure for major territorial concessions following direct talks between Trump’s advisers and Russian representatives.