Ukraine and United States unveil peace framework amid renewed Russian assaults

Wednesday 24 December 2025 - 12:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Ukraine and United States unveil peace framework amid renewed Russian assaults

Ukraine and the United States have jointly presented a detailed 20-point peace proposal to Russia, aiming to initiate the most comprehensive negotiations since the start of the conflict. The plan, developed during high-level discussions in Miami, outlines a potential path toward ending hostilities while defining long-term security, economic, and territorial arrangements.

Framework for a lasting ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the framework as a “fundamental document on ending the war,” structured with input from Washington and key European partners. The plan envisions strict security guarantees resembling NATO’s Article 5, under which partner nations would respond collectively to any renewed aggression against Ukraine. In return, Kyiv would maintain a peacetime military force of 800,000 personnel, largely funded by Western allies.

The framework further includes Ukraine’s integration into the European Union by 2027 or 2028 and a reconstruction package worth more than 800 billion dollars. Additional financial contributions would be pooled from both public and private sectors, with a dedicated 200-billion-dollar fund administered jointly by the United States and European nations.

Territorial questions remain unresolved

Territorial control remains the most sensitive issue, especially in the Donetsk region. Moscow insists that Kyiv withdraw its troops from roughly a quarter of the area still held by Ukrainian forces. Zelenskyy has instead proposed freezing the existing front line while potentially establishing demilitarized or economically cooperative zones in contested areas, subject to future negotiations and a national referendum.

The proposal also covers the fate of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, currently under Russian control. Ukraine has rejected a tri-party management plan involving Russia, preferring a direct partnership with the United States to ensure operational security and international oversight.

Renewed Russian bombardments

Hours after discussions concluded, Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults in recent months, striking 13 Ukrainian regions with more than 650 drones and 30 missiles. The attack killed three people, including a young child, and caused widespread power outages. Ukrainian defense forces reported intercepting 34 of 35 cruise missiles using newly supplied F-16 aircraft.

The assault occurred as Christmas approached, a timing Zelenskyy interpreted as a sign of Moscow’s continued defiance. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces announced a tactical withdrawal from Siversk, east of the country, in what officials described as a strategic move to preserve troops and reposition defenses near Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

Kyiv now awaits an official response from Moscow regarding the American-backed proposal. “They cannot tell President Trump they are against a peaceful settlement,” Zelenskyy remarked, expressing cautious optimism that the plan could open the door to direct negotiations in the coming days.