On December 11, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has submitted a revised 20-point framework to the U.S. for ending its conflict with Russia. The move marks a fresh push in peace negotiations as Kyiv seeks to balance territorial integrity and security.
At the heart of the talks are two major sticking points: the future of the Donetsk region and the status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. “We have two key points of disagreement: the territories of Donetsk and everything related to them, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Zelenskyy said.
The U.S. proposal envisions Ukrainian forces withdrawing from Donetsk while designating the area as a “free economic zone” off-limits to Russian troops. Kyiv has resisted any deal that cedes control without a clear guarantee that the region’s residents have a voice in their future.
“I believe that the people of Ukraine will answer this question. Whether through elections or a referendum, there must be a position from the people of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy added, underscoring his view that Ukrainians should decide on any territorial changes.
Beyond land and energy concerns, the peace plan includes separate documents outlining security guarantees. Having felt let down by past assurances, Ukraine insists that any new guarantees be ratified by Parliament to ensure legal binding and accountability.
During discussions on December 11, Zelenskyy held an in-depth meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff. The goal: to iron out the framework’s details and secure concrete commitments on Ukraine’s post-conflict security.
The revised draft also calls for a strong Ukrainian army of 800,000 personnel—up from earlier proposals—highlighting Kyiv’s desire to maintain robust defense capabilities even after hostilities cease.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s demand that Ukraine adopt neutrality, non-alignment and a non-nuclear status as a starting point for negotiations.
Kyiv is under mounting U.S. pressure to reach a quick deal. Zelenskyy is trying to improve on an initial 28-point U.S.-backed plan that many in Kyiv viewed as overly favorable to Moscow.
Despite reports that Trump set a Christmas deadline for Ukraine to accept a peace proposal, Zelenskyy said on December 11 that Washington has not imposed a strict timeline. “I think they really wanted, or perhaps still want, to have a complete understanding of where we stand with this agreement by Christmas,” he said.
Trump said on December 11 that the U.S. will consider sending a representative to talks in Europe this weekend if there’s a real chance of progress on a ceasefire deal. “We’ll see whether or not we attend the meeting,” he said.
With the holiday season approaching, all eyes are on the upcoming European discussions and whether Ukraine’s revised framework can bridge the gaps between Kyiv, Moscow and Washington for a lasting peace.
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Ukraine presents U.S. revised framework to end conflict with Russia
cgtn.com
