KYIV, UKRAINE—In a dramatic pivot that has recalibrated the trajectory of Europe’s largest conflict, President Volodymyr Zelensky has unveiled a revised 20-point peace framework that, for the first time, opens the door to the creation of “demilitarized buffer zones” along the war’s most volatile frontlines.
Revealed during a marathon briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, the U.S.-backed plan represents a significant “evolution” from earlier, more restrictive drafts. While the Ukrainian leader remains steadfast against a total territorial surrender, the proposal introduces a complex mechanism for mutual troop withdrawals—a move aimed at breaking a multi-year deadlock and satisfying a Washington administration increasingly hungry for a “deal.”
The Architecture of a Buffer
The centerpiece of the new “20 Points to Peace” is a transition from active warfare to a supervised “Line of Contact.” The plan seeks to bypass the binary choice of total victory or total defeat through a series of tactical compromises:
- The Mutual Pullback: Under the draft, Ukraine would consider withdrawing heavy forces by “5, 10, or 40 kilometers” from its remaining strongholds in the Donetsk region—provided Russia executes an identical, verifiable retreat from equivalent territory.
- ‘Free Economic Zones’: To bridge the gap over sovereignty, the U.S. has proposed transforming these demilitarized areas into “Free Economic Zones.” These would be managed by Ukrainian civilian administration and police but stripped of active military presence, potentially overseen by international monitors using satellite-based surveillance.
- The ‘Potency’ Clause: Zelensky emphasized that any such zone must be “potential,” not automatic. He pointed to the city of Enerhodar, home to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as a potential test case for this model.
‘Article 5-Like’ Guarantees
While the proposal asks for military restraint, it offers Ukraine the most robust security framework discussed since the invasion began.
- The Military Response: The draft stipulates that the U.S., NATO, and European signatories would provide “Article 5-like” guarantees. If Russia re-invades, a coordinated military response would be triggered immediately, alongside the reinstatement of all global sanctions.
- Peacetime Force: Far from a total disarmament, the plan envisions a permanent Ukrainian standing army of 800,000 personnel—a figure significantly higher than previous U.S. suggestions of 600,000.
- EU Accession: The plan includes a “specifically defined period” for Ukraine to join the European Union, with Kyiv reportedly pushing for a 2027 or 2028 entry date as an ultimate security anchor.
The Referendum Safeguard
Aware of the intense domestic pressure against “giving up an inch,” Zelensky made clear that he cannot sign off on a troop withdrawal alone.
“If we are discussing a free economic zone or a withdrawal from our land, then we must go to a referendum,” Zelensky told journalists, gesturing to a highlighted copy of the draft. “The people must decide the future of our territory, not just the politicians.”
He noted that such a vote would require a minimum 60-day ceasefire to allow displaced citizens and those in occupied territories a chance to participate—a logistical hurdle that remains one of the plan’s greatest “unknowns.”
Moscow’s Silence
The ball is now in the Kremlin’s court. The U.S. is expected to deliver the finalized 20-point draft to Moscow by Wednesday evening. While Zelensky suggested that “significant progress” has been made, the Russian response remains the ultimate wildcard.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on specifics on Wednesday, stating only that Moscow is “formulating its position.” However, with the U.S. signaling that a rejection from Putin could lead to “massive arming” of Kyiv and escalating sanctions, the pressure on Russia to engage has never been higher.
As the winter sun sets over a frozen frontline, the world watches to see if the phrase “demilitarized zone” becomes a bridge to peace or merely another footnote in a war that has defied all attempts at a finish line.