Zelensky Rejects U.S.-Backed Peace Plan Requiring Donbas Withdrawal

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that a compromise peace plan backed by the United States still requires Ukraine to withdraw from the eastern Donbas region, a concession Kyiv is not willing to consider.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelensky stressed that territorial issues remain one of the biggest sticking points in the negotiations.

His remarks came a day after Ukrainian and European leaders submitted a counterproposal to Washington outlining their own vision for ending the war.

"The 20 points for ending the war form a fundamental document. We are actively working on the key steps – they must be doable. From this fundamental document, we are developing at least two additional ones. The first is on security — regarding security guarantees with the United States. The second is on the economy, covering reconstruction and joint investment," Zelensky said.

Zelensky also posted on social media that Ukrainian and American officials held an “in-depth conversation” on Thursday focused on security guarantees. Earlier in the week, he confirmed that Washington had raised the possibility of legally binding guarantees that would require approval from the US Congress.

Ukraine has insisted that without credible, long-term security guarantees from the United States and Europe, it cannot agree to any deal.

"Today, we focused specifically on the economic document. The principles of the economic document are absolutely clear, and we are fully aligned with the American side on this. An economic action plan will follow. Europe will also be involved in reconstruction. In the near future, we plan to move forward on the other two documents as well. Rustem Umerov will continue the discussions," Zelensky added.

He said security guarantees to prevent Russia from launching another invasion after any pause in fighting are also central to the discussions and far from agreed upon.

According to Zelensky, the American plan envisions turning the parts of the Donbas still controlled by Ukraine into what the Trump administration is calling a “free economic zone” with no Ukrainian or Russian troops present. At the same time, Russia would be permitted to leave its forces in areas of the Donbas it currently occupies.

Zelensky said the US proposal does not clearly explain who would govern this “free economic zone” once Ukrainian troops withdraw. He argued it would be fundamentally unfair for Ukraine to leave the Donbas while Russia ,the aggressor since 2022, stays.

“When you talk to us about a compromise,” Zelensky said, “you must offer a fair compromise.”

He added that Russia has agreed to give up small pockets of territory it holds in the Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions. But Moscow wants to freeze the current front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, where it also controls large areas.

Ukraine, however, has called for freezing the entire front line, including the Donbas, should a cease-fire be implemented.

Zelensky reiterated on Thursday that any decision involving territorial concessions must ultimately be put before the Ukrainian people through elections or a referendum. Such a vote, he said, could only be held once fighting stops and basic security is ensured.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, continues to demand that Ukraine hand over vast territories, significantly reduce its military, and abandon its pursuit of NATO membership — conditions Kyiv says would leave it exposed to future Russian aggression.

Zelensky also informed that the Coalition of the Willing held a meeting , an important format for supporting Ukraine's security now and in the future.

"We are working to ensure that the security guarantees include serious components of European deterrence and are reliable, and it is important that the United States is with us and supports these efforts. No one is interested in a third Russian invasion. And right now, defense support for Ukraine is especially important, because Russia’s attacks are not stopping, and there must be greater protection of life for diplomacy to work toward a just peace," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Ukrainian and European leaders had sent Washington their own revised peace proposal. Kyiv and its partners hope to persuade President Trump to reconsider his stance, which they believe leans heavily in Russia’s favor.

Speaking in Berlin, Merz confirmed that the proposal was sent on Wednesday following a phone call between Trump and European leaders, a conversation that included “pretty strong words,” according to Trump, who has voiced irritation over the slow pace of peace talks.

Merz declined to reveal details of the revised plan but acknowledged that “the main issue here is what territorial concessions Ukraine is prepared to make.”