Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainian media this morning that the main obstacle to peace is Russia’s demand that Ukrainians hand over the entire Donbass region, including the territories of this region of eastern Ukraine, consisting of the Luhansk and Donetsk administrative divisions, which Moscow has not been able to fully capture by force.
“The Americans are trying to reach an agreement,” Zelenskyj said today (December 16, 2025) before his visit to the Netherlands. Zelensky also noted that the Americans are proposing the creation of a free economic zone in these latter areas. “Our position is pragmatic, realistic and fair, and we stand by it. We do not want to give up our Donbas. The Americans are looking for a compromise, they propose the creation of a free economic zone. I emphasize once again that ‘free economic zone’ does not mean that they are under the control of the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said.
There could be a proposal to Russia in a few days
The Ukrainian president said that there is “not yet a consensus” with the Americans when it comes to defining a common position to be presented to the Russian side, but he believes that this is a matter of days and that the current draft is “very feasible.” Kiev expects support from Washington for its position on Donbas in light of negotiations with the Russian Federation in which the Americans have taken on the role of arbiter.
However, United States President Donald Trump believes that Kiev is losing the war and will have to accept Moscow’s demands. However, yesterday he said that we are “closer to peace than ever before” and that Ukraine has been offered “platinum level” security guarantees.
According to Zelensky, these guarantees would be similar to NATO Article 5, meaning they would oblige the United States to defend Ukraine if it is attacked. And he added that “they will be voted on in the (American) Congress.” “There are agreements about this. And it is something very important,” he said. Official US sources have also confirmed that an agreement has been reached on behalf of Zelensky, who held his first meetings in Berlin on Sunday and Monday with the two Trump-appointed Ukraine peace negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
European proposals for debate
The contacts were also attended by key European leaders allied with Kiev, who supported the Ukrainian position and made their own contributions to the peace framework agreement promoted by the White House. It is not clear whether American negotiators will accept these European proposals for presentation to Moscow, which has flatly rejected some of them, such as the proposal to station troops from European NATO countries in Ukraine after the war to deter Russia from new armed aggression.
Another controversial aspect is the frozen Russian funds and war reparations demanded by Moscow. The Netherlands has announced it will set up an international compensation commission for Ukraine to handle claims for war damage that Russia should eventually reimburse, Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said. However, he clarified, this does not guarantee Ukraine compensation for the damage.
LGC (EFE, AP, RTR)
About The Author
