Diplomatic Push: Ukraine Awaits Russian Response to New 20-Point Peace Plan

Kyiv: On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, Ukraine entered a high-stakes waiting game as it expects a formal response from Moscow regarding a newly finalized 20-point peace plan. The document, hammered out over days of intense negotiations in Miami between Ukrainian officials and envoys of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, represents a significant shift from earlier, more pro-Russian drafts.

The Shift from 28 to 20 Points

President Volodymyr Zelensky briefed journalists on Tuesday night, revealing that the revised framework successfully removed several “capitulation” clauses found in an initial 28-point proposal.

Key Changes	From Initial 28-Point Plan	To New 20-Point Plan
NATO Membership	Required a formal constitutional ban.	Clause removed; status remains “unaddressed.”
Territory Recognition	Demanded de jure recognition of annexed lands.	De facto recognition of the current contact line.
War Crimes	Included a waiver of legal recourse for Russia.	Clause dropped; legal accountability remains open.
Military Size	Heavy restrictions on Ukrainian forces.	Capped at a peacetime level of 800,000.

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The Unresolved “Sticking Points”

Despite the 90% consensus reached between Kyiv and Washington, Zelensky admitted that “territory remains the unresolved issue.”² Two critical points (Points 12 and 14) are still under debate:

1. The Donbas Dilemma: Russia demands a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the 20% of the Donetsk region still held by Kyiv. Ukraine is countering with a proposal for a “Free Economic Zone” or a “Demilitarized Zone” to avoid ceding sovereign control.
2. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant: A U.S. proposal suggested a 33/33/33 joint management split between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia. Zelensky called this “unrealistic” and “inappropriate,” instead proposing a 50/50 joint enterprise between the U.S. and Ukraine.

“A free economic zone. If we are discussing this, then we need to go to a referendum,” Zelensky stated, emphasizing that any deal involving territorial withdrawals would require a national vote within 60 days of signing.

A Tense Backdrop on the Ground

The wait for a diplomatic breakthrough comes amidst a grim reality on the front lines:

• Christmas Truce Rejected: Moscow has reportedly turned down an appeal for a 24-hour Christmas ceasefire, prompting “much sadness” from Pope Leo XIV.³
• Ongoing Strikes: On the morning of December 24, Russian drone and missile attacks struck 13 regions, killing three people, including a four-year-old child.⁴
• Moscow Explosions: A car bomb in Moscow killed two police officers on Wednesday, following the assassination of a top Russian general earlier in the week—attacks for which Russia suspects Ukrainian involvement.⁵

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The Path to Signing

If Moscow signals approval today, the document would ideally be signed by the leaders of Ukraine, the U.S., Russia, and key European allies. Zelensky reiterated that presidential elections in Ukraine would only follow the formal signing of a peace agreement.