Zelensky says US wants ‘special economic zone’ in Ukraine’s Donetsk region

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States proposed to Ukraine to withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region and create a “special economic zone” in the areas it currently controls.

Zelensky said that territory and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain two main unresolved issues in the proposed peace plan for Ukraine.

In a thought-provoking briefing to reporters, Zelensky touched on the United States’ desire for a quick end to the conflict, the complex nature of ongoing negotiations and his belief that Russia has no desire to stop the war.

Zelensky said Ukraine sent the United States an updated 20-point plan, as well as separate documents on security guarantees and provisions for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

This comes after weeks of high-level diplomatic activity that has seen multiple peace plans drafted, adjusted and revised by the US, Ukraine, Russia and European leaders.

“The last stage is the most difficult. Everything can break down for many reasons,” Zelensky said on Thursday. he said.

Russia demands that Ukraine give up control of the roughly 30% of the eastern Donetsk region it currently holds; Ukraine has refused to do this both out of principle and out of fear that it would give Moscow a foothold for future invasions.

According to Zelensky, the United States is currently envisioning a solution that would see Ukrainian forces withdraw from parts of Donetsk and commit to Russian forces not advancing into the region. Zelensky said that this zone will be a “special economic zone” or “demilitarized zone”.

However, he noted that it would not be fair for the Ukrainians to withdraw unilaterally and that Russia should also withdraw the same distance.

“What will restrict [Russia] from moving forward? “Or infiltration while disguised as a civilian?” he asked.

Zelensky said these were “very serious concerns” and Ukraine might not accept the offer at all; but it opened the door to elections or referendums to give the Ukrainian people a chance to choose.

But he acknowledged that clashes will continue and could still shape the future of negotiations: “A lot depends on what our army can hold, where it can stop the enemy, what it can destroy. This affects the whole configuration.”

Zelensky said that the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is also an extremely controversial issue.

The power plant, the largest in Europe, is at the forefront and has been under Russian control since March 2022.

Zelensky said a possible solution would be for the Russians to withdraw and for Kiev to share control of the facility with the Americans; but he acknowledged that the details of such an arrangement were still unclear and it was doubtful whether Moscow would agree to it.

US President Donald Trump appears frustrated by the complexity of the conflict, and Kiev and its allies fear that the Americans may eventually try to impose a Russian-led solution on Ukraine.

Zelensky told reporters that there was no deadline for the agreement, although the Americans wanted the war to be “concluded faster.”

Ukraine, the target of widespread air strikes almost every night, is pressing for a deadline and wants an immediate ceasefire to be implemented before a more onerous agreement is detailed.

But Russia looks set to gain more from postponing the ceasefire as its troops continue to make small but incremental gains on the front and its attacks are tiring the Ukrainian population.

Zelensky said that “after numerous discussions with Russia” the Americans now agree on this position regarding Moscow.

Kremlin officials are more secretive than their European, American and Ukrainian counterparts.

But Russia has tried to reinforce as much as possible the impression that Moscow and Washington are aligned in their hopes for the terms of the peace agreement.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday praised Trump for trying to reach an agreement and said a recent meeting in the Kremlin between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff had “eliminated” “misunderstandings” between the two sides.

The foreign minister also rejected suggestions that Kiev could be given security guarantees in the form of foreign troops stationed in Ukraine.

“This is another turn of the sad logic in Zelensky’s so-called peace formula,” Lavrov said, adding that Moscow had made “additional” offers to the United States on collective security and was ready to give legal guarantees that Russia would not attack NATO or EU countries.

But given Russia’s previous violations of ceasefire and ceasefire agreements, neither Ukraine nor Europe will take any promises from Moscow at face value.

European and Ukrainian officials want the United States to be involved in providing security guarantees so that Kiev does not become the target of new attacks.

Zelensky said he had received a draft proposal regarding American security guarantees, but the draft was being worked on. This shows that the US offers are insufficient to satisfy Kiev’s fears.

Zelensky said, “The USA does not want Ukraine in NATO. They say this openly… That’s why I don’t think they have any problems discussing NATO with the Russians.” he said.

Zelensky also said that Ukraine should be “cautious” and added: “We do not know what other agreements the United States may have with Russia. We will learn over time.”

The Ukrainian president also acknowledged that U.S. support for Kiev, both in terms of the flow of weapons the U.S. sells through other countries and in terms of intelligence sharing, may one day end.

Reflecting the worrying nature of the negotiations and his doubts that Russia was negotiating in good faith, Zelensky told reporters: “No one knows what will happen the day after tomorrow… We do not know how these negotiations will turn out.”