Volodymir Zelensky recently said that the United States and Russia share key demands on Ukraine and thus end the war. What the Ukrainian president detailed was not a secret, but it was the first time he expressed it publicly. Zelensky confirmed that Donald Trump aligned with Vladimir Putin to force Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas region, among other common complaints. Furthermore, for the first time, Zelensky did not completely rule out the possibility of demilitarization on both sides.
The culmination of negotiations on the US president’s peace plan took place on November 21 with other words of extreme sincerity delivered by Zelensky in a speech to the nation: “We found ourselves in one of the most difficult moments in history. We could find ourselves facing a very difficult decision, or losing our dignity, or losing a key ally (the United States). The 28 difficult points are an extremely complicated winter.”
The message was written after Zelensky officially received the first US document aimed at ending the war. This 28-point plan was developed by Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s emissary, and Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian leader’s confidant. The conclusion of Ukraine and its allies in Europe is that the text, more than a peace treaty, meant humiliation and surrender of the invaded country.
The clauses moved from 28 to 20 after three weeks of discussions, and kyiv insists on withdrawing even more concessions than those planned by Washington and Moscow. But the White House, as Zelensky explains by referring to the means of communication, persists in maintaining demands which also emanate from the Kremlin. The main thing is that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the 25% of Donetsk province (in Donbass) that they still control. Russia plans to make this territory a demilitarized zone. The United States too, but they are called a “free economic zone”.
Zelensky said it remains to be determined how this demilitarized territory will be governed. The latest version of the American document would present a substantial change, according to a filter published by the Ukrainian newspaper ZN: Ukraine will not have to recognize that the Donbass region and the Crimean peninsula are Russian sovereign, the status of these territories will be decided diplomatically. Donbass is made up of the provinces of Lugansk, entirely occupied by Russia, and Donetsk, of which the Ukrainian armed forces maintain 25% under their control. Crimea was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
The Ukrainian president indicated that he “could not accept” the withdrawal from Donetsk as it is now formulated, but for the first time he opened up to discuss it. “We need to continue the dialogue and try to find answers,” Zelenskiy explained: “For example, if one moves five kilometers away, the others must also move five kilometers away.
Mijaílo Podoliak, advisor to the Ukrainian president, expressed it in the same way as Jueves in the French newspaper Le Monde: “There must be a demilitarized zone on both sides of the line, this is the natural way to end the conflict because, unfortunately, part of the territory will remain under Russian occupation. Actually“.
Zelensky and Podoliak admit that they are open to a consensual formula that, for the first time, includes the possibility of withdrawing their soldiers to Donetsk, but Russia is doing the same.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s confidant and negotiator with the United States, argued this week that Russia would still consider Donbass as part of the Russian Federation, even if it would be ready to create a demilitarized zone. But in this case, Ushakov said, there should only be the presence of Russian police or Rosguardia, the Russian equivalent of the Civil Guard.
In the EU over the years
The comments of Zelenski and Trump in recent hours would indicate that the document published by ZN It’s true. In this case, several victories appear for the Ukrainian president’s negotiating team: the United States, despite being opposed to the invaded country becoming part of NATO, agrees to withdraw its earlier demand that the Ukrainian Constitution include the commitment never to enter the Atlantic Alliance. The point that provided for an amnesty for war crimes committed during the invasion also disappeared from the text. Another victory for kyiv, perhaps from a silent mayor, would be if, according to the 20-point peace plan, the European Union commits to integrating it as a member in 2027.
Ukraine has been a candidate for EU membership since June 2022, four months after the outbreak of war. To achieve the agenda of the American plan, the invaded country would be part of the community club after only five years, barely enough time to adopt all the reforms demanded by Brussels. The most optimistic forecasts from the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, are aimed at 2030.
But as Josep Borrell, then head of European diplomacy, explained to EL PAÍS in 2024, Ukraine’s accession has a political component that differentiates it from other incorporations into the EU. “If the Ukrainian side says it will take 10 years, this is a breakdown of expectations,” Borrell said, “the case of Ukraine is not the case of a similar country and Europe enjoys its credibility.”
Another sign of optimism is that, according to Zelensky’s words, there would be an agreement with Washington and Moscow on other decisive issues: the war front would be blocked in the provinces of Jerón and Zaporiyia, partially occupied by Russia, and the Kremlin would withdraw from the small enclaves it had conquered in the provinces of Sumi, Járkov and Dnipropetrovsk.
Elect referendum
The Ukrainian president argued that any changes to the national territory should first be ratified by the ballot box, by elections or by a referendum.
Zelensky reiterated that he was open to the possibility of holding rallies during the war, a demand of Trump and Putin, but it depends on the security and legal formulas that the groups in Parliament present for this to be possible.
The coincidences between Trump and Putin go further than Donetsk or their demand for elections in Ukraine. Zelenski confirmed that Casa Blanca had changed its mind while the fire was high: the United States, like Russia, is now proposing that the agreement be firm before a truce. A few weeks ago, Washington, kyiv and the rest of the European allies complained to Russia that to negotiate peace it was necessary to first order an escape ladder. And without the heat, holding elections seems impossible, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Another issue is that Trump and Putin appear to be in sync and that Zelensky is opening to negotiations over control of the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant, Ukraine’s mayor and currently occupied by Russia. The American peace document proposes that the plant be managed by the United States and that each country, Russia and Ukraine, receive a share of its electricity production. The Ukrainian representative considers that the agreement requires the withdrawal of Russians from the central office and recognizes that their ownership is Ukrainian.
Zelensky admitted that he had failed in the Russian complaint, although it was an average defeat. The Kremlin demanded to limit the number of soldiers that Ukraine could have after the war, i.e. 600,000 soldiers. kyiv’s first reaction was frankly opposed, saying that the enemy could not determine its defense potential. But the new version of the plan, and Zelensky says he accepts it, establishes a new group of 800,000 troops, which is close to the current figure.
Negotiations continue and the ball is now on the roof of Casa Blanca after Ukraine sent its latest revision of the peace plan this week. Trump pressed Zelensky again in the last hour of July: “I thought we were very close to a deal with Russia. I thought we were very close to a deal with Ukraine. Except Zelensky, because his people (the negotiating team) liked the snub of the deal.”
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