Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is prepared to consider the creation of a demilitarized free economic zone in eastern Ukraine as part of efforts to end Russia’s war — but only if the proposal is approved by voters in a national referendum.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would be willing to withdraw its troops from parts of the eastern industrial region if Russia also pulls back its forces and the territory is placed under international supervision. The proposal, he said, would need to be monitored by international peacekeepers and endorsed by the Ukrainian public.
Zelenskyy outlined the idea while discussing a 20-point framework developed in recent days by Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators during talks in Florida. While progress has been made, he stressed that several critical issues — including territory and nuclear infrastructure — remain unresolved.
A similar arrangement could also be considered around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, Zelenskyy said. However, he acknowledged that negotiations on the plant have been particularly difficult.
U.S. officials have held separate talks with Kyiv and Moscow since President Donald Trump presented a ceasefire proposal last month — a plan critics say favours Russia. Since then, Ukraine and its European allies have worked to reshape the framework to better reflect Kyiv’s priorities.
The future of the Donbas region, most of which is currently under Russian occupation, remains one of the biggest obstacles. Russia controls nearly all of Luhansk and about 70 per cent of Donetsk, and has demanded that Ukraine surrender the rest — a demand Kyiv has rejected.
“This is the most difficult point,” Zelenskyy said, adding that decisions on territorial control must be addressed at the level of national leaders and ultimately approved by voters. He said a referendum would require a 60-day period, during which hostilities should be halted.
The draft proposal also envisions Russian troop withdrawals from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Zelenskyy said international forces could be stationed along parts of the current front line within a free economic zone to prevent covert military incursions.
On Zaporizhzhia, the U.S. has suggested a three-way consortium involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States, each holding equal stakes. Zelenskyy rejected that idea as unrealistic, instead proposing a joint U.S.-Ukraine venture in which Washington would control how its share — potentially including allocations to Russia — is distributed. He said the plant would require billions of dollars in investment to restart, including major infrastructure repairs.
Zelenskyy confirmed that no agreement has yet been reached with the U.S. on the Donetsk region or the nuclear plant, though he said consensus has been achieved on most other points.
The draft framework also includes provisions for strong security guarantees for Ukraine, comparable to NATO’s Article 5, requiring international partners to respond to any renewed Russian aggression. Zelenskyy said those guarantees would be detailed in a separate agreement with the United States and signed alongside any final peace deal.
Additional elements of the proposal include maintaining Ukraine’s armed forces at roughly 800,000 troops in peacetime, accelerating Ukraine’s path to European Union membership, and expanding free trade agreements with the U.S. Ukraine is also seeking privileged access to European markets and a large-scale global development package aimed at rebuilding the economy and attracting up to $800 billion in investment.
The draft would require Ukraine to hold elections following the signing of a peace agreement. Zelenskyy’s term was due to end in 2024, but elections were postponed under wartime law — a move Russia has repeatedly criticized.
Ukraine is also calling for the immediate release of all prisoners taken since 2014, including civilians, political detainees and children, as part of any final settlement.
