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Zelenskyy Open to Troop Pullback in East If Russia Reciprocates, Washington Post Reports
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday presented a revised peace proposal that for the first time outlines a conditional willingness to adjust Ukrainian troop deployments in the country’s east, signaling a cautious shift amid stalled efforts to end the war with Russia, The Washington Post reported on December 24.
Under the revised plan, Ukraine would consider withdrawing forces from parts of the Donbas region to form a demilitarized zone, provided Russian troops carry out a parallel and simultaneous withdrawal. Zelenskyy said Ukraine does not support unilateral concessions and views reciprocal steps as essential to any agreement.
The 20-point draft, which has not been accepted by Moscow, marks Zelenskyy’s first public openness to changes related to troop positioning in the east. Russia has continued to demand control over eastern Ukrainian territories, despite ongoing military challenges in the region.
Ukrainian officials said the proposed demilitarized area could operate as a free economic zone outside the control of either military. Zelenskyy added that any agreement involving troop movements or territorial arrangements would require approval through a national referendum, which would be difficult to organize without a ceasefire.
The report also highlighted unresolved questions about security arrangements. Establishing such a zone could require international peacekeepers, an option Russia has previously opposed, diplomats said.
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The updated plan follows weeks of diplomatic discussions after the United States signaled last month that continued support for Ukraine could depend on engagement with an earlier framework.
That period included meetings between Ukrainian officials and negotiators linked to US President Donald Trump, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The draft also proposes a peacetime Ukrainian military of 800,000 troops, an increase from earlier figures. Ukrainian leaders have said maintaining a sizable armed force is central to the country’s security.
The document references international security assurances similar to NATO’s Article 5. A previous clause limiting Ukraine’s future NATO membership was removed following domestic opposition.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the details of the proposal, saying Russia’s main demands are already known to US officials.
The Washington Post added that hostilities continue despite diplomatic signals. Russia rejected Ukraine’s request for a Christmas truce and has continued strikes on energy infrastructure, contributing to power outages during winter conditions.
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainians were marking a fourth Christmas under Russia’s full-scale war and that Russia struck Ukraine’s energy system on December 24.
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