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Zelenskyy: Ukraine Finalizing 20-Point Peace Framework With US and EU
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![Photo of Liubava Petriv]( "Photo of Liubava Petriv")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working with the United States and European Union on a developing peace framework but ruled out any agreement that would involve giving up territory, including Donetsk.
Speaking to reporters via WhatsApp on December 9 while flying from Rome after meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Zelenskyy described the talks as ongoing and focused on security guarantees and postwar reconstruction.
“We are working today and will be working tomorrow. I think tomorrow we will already hand over the draft,” he said.
The proposal is based on a 20-point structure and is described as a “living document” that continues to evolve. It is anchored by three core pillars: long-term security assurances, a roadmap for reconstruction, and the release of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s recovery.
Zelenskyy emphasized that while NATO membership is not currently on the table, Ukraine is seeking bilateral commitments from the United States modeled on NATO’s Article 5—providing for mutual defense and coordinated responses to future threats.
“These guarantees include weapons, sanctions, and air defense,” Zelenskyy said, adding that a broader European Coalition of the Willing is being considered as an additional layer of collective support.
Addressing recent reports that Ukraine was under pressure to surrender parts of Donetsk, Zelenskyy firmly denied any such negotiation is underway.
“This is not coming from the United States—the originator of this idea was Russia,” he said. “We have no legal or moral right to give up our land.”
He stressed that there are currently no direct negotiations with Russia, which continues to conduct missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
“We see only their strikes—on our energy sector, on people left without electricity. That does not indicate interest in peace.”
Asked whether an energy-focused ceasefire might be possible, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has always been open to such measures, but only if Russia ceases its attacks.
Zelenskyy also confirmed that Ukraine is deploying a range of domestically developed missile systems, including Neptune, Long Neptune, Palyanytsia, Flamingo, and Sapsan.
“Yes, we’ve started. But I won’t discuss numbers or specifics,” he said. “The Neptunes are working very well. In many cases, the enemy thinks we used them—and let them keep thinking that."
He added that much of the information circulating in Ukrainian media comes from Russian sources, which he cautioned against relying on fully.
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On the broader peace effort, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for legislative alignment with Europe, particularly in relation to how frozen Russian assets might be used—whether to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction or bolster its defense capabilities.
“We want Europe to be fully involved, and we’re working on ensuring that. The parts of the plan that relate to Europe must be accepted by Europe.”
He noted that some EU capitals remain skeptical of the proposed “reparations loan” mechanism, but reiterated that Ukraine sees the funds as essential—either to rebuild in peace or to defend during war.
Earlier, it was reported that Zelenskyy stated that he is ready to hold presidential elections—but only if the necessary security and legal conditions can be met.
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")