Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and the United States are nearing the completion of a framework for security guarantees and economic agreements connected to a suggested peace plan. Meanwhile, Russia has indicated it will demand substantial modifications before any agreement to conclude the conflict can be reached.
During a press briefing in Kyiv on December 22, Zelenskyy revealed that discussions with U.S. officials had resulted in a 20-point plan, accompanied by documents detailing security assurances involving Ukraine, the U.S., and European partners. He admitted that while the framework is not without its faults, it represents a significant advancement.
“The plan consists of 20 points, and while not everything is perfect, it exists,” Zelenskyy stated. “There are security guarantees involving us, the Europeans, and the United States, along with a framework document.”
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, N.Y., on September 23, 2025. (Al Drago/Reuters)
Zelenskyy mentioned that a separate bilateral agreement with Washington, outlining security assurances, is set to be reviewed by the U.S. Congress. He noted that critical annexes, essential for Ukraine’s military requirements, have been mostly agreed upon.
“I’ve seen the preliminary developments, and honestly, about 90% of the attachments are precisely what we need; what our army and Ukraine can rely on,” he remarked, describing the draft as “fairly commendable.”
A Christmas tree remains in the living room damaged by a Russian drone strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Dec. 16, 2025. Russian troops attack a nine-storey apartment building with a drone, starting a fire in several flats and injuring three people. (Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
He also said a first version of an agreement on Ukraine’s recovery had been prepared, calling it an economic strategy that, together with the security documents, forms “the basic block of all documents.”
Zelenskyy warned, however, that diplomacy has not reduced the immediate military threat from Russia. He criticized Moscow for rejecting proposals for a Christmas ceasefire, calling it a “bad signal,” and warned of potential attacks during the holiday period.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 44th artillery brigade fire a 2s22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Danylo Antoniuk/AP Photo)
“When Russia says there will be no Christmas ceasefire, I think that this is, in principle, always what they say, they emphasize intimidation,” Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine faces an air-defense shortfall and urged civilians to remain vigilant.
Reuters also reported that Zelenskyy confirmed Russian forces captured a border village in Ukraine’s Sumy region, taking dozens of civilians and 13 Ukrainian soldiers prisoner. He said Ukrainian troops refrained from striking Russian forces because civilians were present. Reuters noted it could not independently verify the account and that Russia had not commented.
On the Russian side, the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the U.S. peace proposals, with Moscow expected to formulate its position in the coming days, according to Reuters and Anadolu Agency.
President Donald Trump, right, shakes the hand of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Bloomberg News reported that Russia views the 20-point plan agreed between Ukraine and the U.S. as only a starting point. According to a person close to the Kremlin, Moscow intends to seek key changes, including additional restrictions on Ukraine’s military, arguing that the proposal lacks provisions important to Russia and leaves many questions unanswered.
The emerging positions underline a widening gap between Kyiv’s portrayal of progress toward security guarantees and Moscow’s insistence on renegotiating core elements of the U.S.-backed plan as diplomacy continues.
