Ukraine: Zelenskyy unveils revised US-backed peace plan

Russia analyst Andras Racz says a newly revised peace proposal, presented by President Zelenskyy, marks the first time Ukraine and the US have coordinated their positions. But he is not at all optimistic that Russia's Vladimir Putin will respond positively.

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed continued support for Kyiv in discussions with NATO chief Mark Rutte on the ongoing situation in Ukraine and the continued work by the 'Coalition of the Willing' on Wednesday.

Writing on social media platform X, Marcon said:  "Beginning in January in Paris, we will continue these efforts with a view to providing Ukraine with strong security guarantees, which are an essential condition to achieving a robust and lasting peace."

"As Russia continues its aggression, Ukraine keeps fighting and continues to demonstrate resilience. It can rely on our steadfast support, now and in the future."

Ukraine's oil and gas infrastructure came under attack by Russia for the second day in a row, Ukraine's state-run Naftogaz said.

The "targeted attacks" forced equipment to shut down, the firm said, adding that Russia had used nearly 100 drones to strike Ukraine's gas production facilities.

"There is critical damage. Equipment operations have been halted. Rescuers and company specialists are working to address the aftermath of these attacks. Restoration work will begin immediately afterward," Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretsky said on Facebook.

On Tuesday, Russia launched over 600 drones and dozens of missiles on Ukraine, killing at least three people and forcing widespread power cuts.

Ukraine is in the midst of winter, with most of the country struggling with frigid, subzero temperatures this week.

The two main issues that look likely to hinder progress in the peace talks are over control of territory in eastern Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

On Zaporizhzhia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: 

• No agreement has been reached with the US on who controls and operates Europe's largest nuclear power facility
• The plant is near the front line, but lies in territory that is controlled by Russian forces
• Zelenskyy said the original US plan had been for the plant to be operated by Ukraine, Russia and the United States in a joint enterprise
• Kyiv wants the plant to be split 50-50 between it and Washington

On the issue of territory in eastern Ukraine, Zelenskyy said:

• The issue is the most complex point in the negotiations, and remains unresolved. Moscow wants Kyiv to pull all of its forces out of the region, including territory that Ukraine currently controls
• Ukraine wants the fighting to be frozen along the current frontline
• The US has suggested establishing demilitarized zones and a free economic zone in areas of Donetsk that Kyiv still holds 

Russia's demands for peace have not changed, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, while also noting that Moscow's leadership will convene before responding to the revised plan.

"All the main parameters of the Russian side's position are well known to our colleagues from the United States," Peskov told reporters.

"Now, we will take into account the information received by our head of state to formulate our further positions and continue our contacts... as soon as possible," Peskov said.

Russian officials also confirmed that President Vladimir Putin has received a report on recent meetings between his negotiators and US President Donald Trump's envoys on a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

Here is a closer look at some of the key points in the modified US-backed peace proposal:

• Ukraine’s state sovereignty will be affirmed by all signatories, including Russia
• Russia and Ukraine will sign a full and unconditional non-aggression pact
• To maintain the peace long-term, a monitoring mechanism will be set up to oversee the line of contact. The mechanism will use space-based monitoring and early-warning systems for violations 
• The US, NATO and European nations will provide Kyiv with robust security guarantees that mirror NATO's Article 5, the alliance's collective defense clause
• Ukraine will keep its armed forces at the current strength of 800,000 military personnel. The earlier US plan had called for Kyiv to cut the size of its army
• Russia will formally ensrhine a legally-binding policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine in all of its required legislation. This will need to be ratified by an absolute majority in the State Duma, Russia's parliament

• Russia will not block Ukraine from ​using the Dnipro River and the Black Sea for commercial purposes

• All remaining prisoners of war (POWs) will be exchanged on the principle of "All for All", and all civilian detainees and hostages will be returned

• Ukraine must hold elections as soon as possible once the agreement is signed

• The implementation of the legally binding agreement will be monitored and guaranteed by a Peace Council, chaired by President Trump. Ukraine, Europe, NATO, Russia, and the US will be part of this mechanism. Sanctions will be imposed in case of violations

But the issues of what to do with territory in eastern Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain unresolved.

The new plan states that a ceasefire can only take effect once those two sticking points have been addressed. 

Zelenksyy suggested the new draft could eventually lead to Ukraine pulling troops out of Donetsk once demilitarized zones are established.

"This is a document referred to as a framework – a foundational document on ending the war, a political document between us, America, Europe, and the Russians," Zelenskyy said.

But he said the "most sensitive issues" must be discussed with US President Donald Trump.

"Matters such as territorial questions must be discussed at the leaders’ level," Ukraine's president added.

Zelenskyy presented the new plan during a two-hour press conference with journalists on Tuesday night, witth his comments embargoed until Wednesday morning.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed a new 20-point plan to end the war in Ukraine.

The 20-point plan is a revision of a 28-point proposal made by Washington in November, which leaders in Europe and Ukraine considered too conciliatory to Russia's demands.

Kyiv has managed to secure some concessions in the new plan, which comes after intense consultations in recent weeks between negotiators from the US, Europe and Ukraine.

Key points that Ukraine had objected to in the White House's original plan have been addressed, namely Kyiv having to immediately withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region and renounce its NATO membership bid. Also, under the new plan, the land currently occupied by Moscow will not be recognized as Russian.

While Zelenskyy said Ukraine's and Russia's positions had been brought closer on most points, consensus on two key points remains elusive: control of territory in eastern Ukraine and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed a new, 20-point plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

The announcement comes after a surge of US-led diplomatic activity in recent weeks.

The plan contains several concessions for Ukraine relative to Washington's original 28-point proposal, which had been seen as too favorable to Moscow.

The unveiling of the new peace plan also comes a day after Russia pummeled Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles, killing at least three people and cutting power to thousands across the country.

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest on the efforts to end the nearly four-year war.