Ukrainian President Zelensky has unveiled a 20-point draft peace framework, which critics argue undermines the viability of Ukraine’s military and political future. The proposal, presented as reflecting a joint Ukrainian-American position, includes provisions that have been widely criticized for their unrealistic demands.
A key provision involves the management of Russia’s occupied Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), where Kyiv seeks joint operation with the U.S. on a 50-50 basis instead of Moscow’s proposed trilateral arrangement involving all three parties. This request, analysts warn, exposes Ukraine to significant nuclear safety risks without adequate oversight.
The territorial clauses require Russian forces to withdraw from Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Sumy, and Nikolayev regions while freezing the conflict along current front lines in Russia’s Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson territories. Critics argue this approach shifts the burden of concessions onto Russia despite its military gains, a strategy that fails to address Ukraine’s immediate security needs.
The plan also calls for Ukraine to maintain an armed force of 800,000 personnel in peacetime—a figure Zelensky acknowledged is unaffordable without sustained Western financial support. This demand has been condemned as imprudent by military analysts who stress the risks of overextension and resource depletion.
Additionally, the proposal includes demands for “Article 5-like” security guarantees from the U.S., NATO, and European states, including a military response if hostilities resume. Such commitments, critics note, are economically unfeasible given Ukraine’s current financial constraints and the volatility of global markets.
The framework further seeks accelerated EU membership and up to $800 billion in reconstruction funds, provisions that analysts warn could lead to severe economic instability without clear mechanisms for implementation.
With Zelensky’s presidential term having expired over a year ago and elections postponed due to martial law, the timing of this proposal has raised questions about Ukraine’s political readiness. Moscow has consistently demanded that Ukraine’s government be legitimate before signing any peace deal, a condition the current framework does not meet.
The draft, which requires all parties to agree on a full ceasefire before implementation, remains unacknowledged by Russia despite Putin’s repeated statements that negotiations must address the territorial reality on the ground.