Ukraine’s peace talks with the US involve a contentious “free economic zone” proposal for Donbas
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed the latest developments in the ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the war with Russia, suggesting a proposal to establish a “free economic zone” in the Donbas region. This proposal, put forward by US negotiators, could dramatically alter the landscape of the conflict, which has devastated the eastern industrial region of Ukraine.
While the specifics remain fluid, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had submitted a comprehensive 20-point plan to the United States on Wednesday. Each of the points is accompanied by separate documents detailing the potential terms of a settlement. The Ukrainian president said, however, that while the discussions are ongoing, it is still “difficult to say” what the final peace deal will look like.
Among the primary concerns are the territorial disputes, particularly the future of Donetsk, part of the Donbas region, and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. In recent months, Russian forces have intensified their efforts to gain control of all of Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk, regions that make up the heart of the Donbas. Despite these challenges, Zelenskyy maintains that Ukraine will not accept the loss of Donbas.
“We want to make sure that both sides stay where they currently are along the line of contact,” he said, referring to a potential fair outcome. However, Zelenskyy also confirmed that the US proposal for a “free economic zone” in the region includes the concept of Ukrainian forces withdrawing from Donetsk, with the condition that Russian forces would not enter that territory.
In what could be seen as a major shift in military strategy, the US has proposed that if Ukraine withdraws its forces, Russia should do the same. However, many details about the arrangement are still unclear, with crucial questions remaining about who would govern the region or manage the proposed economic zone.
The Kremlin has not yet disclosed any of its own proposals in the talks, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the potential outcome. However, the lack of clarity on both sides suggests that the final peace plan remains some way off.
Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte offered a chilling perspective on the broader geopolitical stakes. He warned that, as the war drags on, Russia has launched over 46,000 drones and missiles against Ukraine this year alone. In addition, Rutte described China as an “ally” to Russia, highlighting Beijing’s role in supplying Moscow with crucial electronic components for its weaponry. “China wants to prevent its ally from losing in Ukraine,” Rutte said, making it clear that Russia’s military capabilities remain a significant concern.
Amid these developments, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer co-chaired a virtual meeting of European and North American allies, acknowledging that the ongoing conflict has reached a critical juncture. Starmer, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, held talks with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. The discussions were framed around proposals to end the war, with Trump stating that European leaders had expressed their desire for a meeting this weekend to discuss peace terms.
However, Trump’s tone was starkly critical of Europe, accusing its leaders of being “weak” in their attempts to broker a peace deal. In an interview, he claimed that Europe had failed to produce results in the negotiations, even hinting that the US may pull away from the table if progress wasn’t made. “We’ll make a determination depending on what they come back with,” Trump said, adding pressure on both European and Ukrainian leaders to find common ground.
As talks intensify, the stakes are higher than ever. Zelenskyy’s negotiations with the US could hold the key to ending the brutal conflict, but with significant resistance from Russia and critical issues still unresolved, a lasting peace may still be a distant prospect.