• Ukrainian peace plan includes security guarantees and potential troop withdrawals.
• Zelensky describes the updated 20-point plan as a significant framework for ending the war.
• Discussions on demilitarized zones and economic zones are central to negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has presented an updated peace plan aiming to end the ongoing Russian invasion, highlighting a framework that could include potential troop withdrawals from eastern Ukraine and the possibility of demilitarized zones. During a briefing, Zelensky noted that the latest version, a 20-point plan agreed upon with US negotiators, would offer Ukraine security guarantees akin to NATO membership, enhancing its military capacity with a proposed peacetime strength of 800,000 troops, according to SCMP and BBC.

The peace proposal, seen as a response to previous Russian demands, includes plans for a "free economic zone" in conflict regions, potentially enabling Ukrainian control while alleviating pressure for a complete withdrawal, Zelensky stated. He emphasized that the plan reflected a shift away from an earlier 28-point US proposal which leaned heavily towards Kremlin demands, indicating a willingness to negotiate despite Moscow's hardline stance. Zelensky acknowledged that while certain points of the agreement are unfavorable to Ukraine, the overall trajectory of negotiations is promising, as outlined in reports from CBS News and SCMP.

As negotiations unfold, issues pertaining to the territorial status of regions like Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson remain pivotal. Zelensky indicated that any required troop redeployments would likely necessitate a public referendum, reflecting the sensitive nature of land concessions that the Ukrainian government must navigate amidst public sentiment. The involvement of the US, NATO, and even the European Union within the security guarantees framework marks a significant development in the diplomatic landscape of the conflict, as reiterated in statements from BBC and CBS News.

The plan also suggests shared management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian occupation. Zelensky has voiced skepticism regarding the feasibility of any joint operations with Russia in the wake of ongoing hostilities, stating that the notion of joint oversight is “very inappropriate.” This proposal aligns with the broader goal of establishing conditions conducive to a potential ceasefire and reflects ongoing concerns about safety in the region, as detailed by SCMP, BBC, and CBS News.