JAKARTA - The United States (US) and Ukraine have reached an agreement on several important issues aimed at ending the nearly four-year-old Russia-Ukraine war.
The agreement is contained in a peace proposal containing 20 important points resulting from talks between US, European, and Ukrainian officials in Florida in recent days discussing ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy explained to reporters each point of the peace proposal on Tuesday local time. However, AP reported that his statement was kept secret until it was published on Wednesday, December 24.
According to him, Zelenskyy, the proposal reflects Ukraine's desire, combining political and commercial interests to maintain security while increasing economic potential.
The crux of the peace proposal lies in territorial control at the heart of Ukraine's eastern industrial heartlands of Donetsk and Luhansk, known as Donbas. "This is the most difficult point," Zelenskyy said.
He said these issues would be discussed at the level of the heads of state.
On the one hand, Russia has repeatedly stressed the demand that Ukraine give up the Donbas region that has not been seized, but the ultimatum has been rejected by Ukraine. Currently, Russia has seized most of Luhansk and about 70 percent of Donetsk.
In an effort to facilitate a compromise, the US has proposed turning the Donbas region into a free economic zone. However, Ukraine insists that any deal must depend on a referendum, which allows the Ukrainian people to determine their own fate regarding the disputed territory with Russia.
Zelensky added that Ukraine also demanded demilitarization in Donbas and the presence of international forces to ensure stability.
How will the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest plant under Russian occupation, be managed?
The question is another controversial issue. The US proposed a joint consortium of Ukraine and Russia regarding Zaporizhzhia, with each party having an equal share in the venture.
However, Zelensky proposed a joint venture proposal between the US and Ukraine, in which the US could decide how to distribute their share, assuming that the share would be given to Russia.
"We did not reach a consensus with the Americans regarding the Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," Zelensky said, referring to the power plant in Zaporizhzhia.
"However, we have significantly brought most positions closer together. In principle, all other consensus in this agreement has been found between us and them," he continued.
Free Economic Zone compromise
In the 20-point peace proposal, point 14 covers the territory across the eastern front line, and point 12 discusses the management of the Zaporizhzhia plant. Both of these are likely to be important points in the negotiations.
"We are in a situation where Russia wants us to leave the Donetsk region, and the United States is trying to find a way for it to be 'not an exit' - because we are against leaving - they want to find a demilitarised zone or a free economic zone here, that is, a format that can accommodate the views of both sides," Zelensky said.
The peace proposal states that the contact line, which runs through five Ukrainian regions, will be frozen after the agreement is signed.
Zelensky said Ukraine's stance on this matter is that any attempt to create a free economic zone must be ratified through a referendum, which confirms that the Ukrainian people ultimately hold the power of decision-making. This process will take 60 days, he added, during which hostilities must be stopped to allow the process to take place.
He added that more difficult discussions would require further discussion on how far the troops should withdraw, in accordance with Ukraine's proposal, and where international forces would be deployed.
Zelensky said that in the end "people can choose: is this end right for us or not."
The proposal also calls for Russian forces to withdraw from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions, and for international forces to be deployed along the contact line to monitor the implementation of the agreement.
"Because there is no trust in Russia, and they have repeatedly broken their promises, the current contact line turns into a de facto free economic zone line, and international forces must be there to ensure that no one will get there under any guise - neither 'green-uniformed forces' nor Russian military disguised as civilians," Zelensky said.
Management of the Zaporizhzhia Power Plant
Zelensky said that Ukraine also proposed that the occupied city of Enerhodar, which is connected to the Zaporizhzhia power plant, be a demilitarised free economic zone. He added that this point required 15 hours of discussion with the US.
For now, the US proposes that the power plant be operated jointly by Ukraine, the US, and Russia, with each party receiving dividends from the company.
"The US is offering 33 percent for 33 percent for 33 percent, and America is the main manager of this joint venture," he said.
"It's clear that for Ukraine this sounds very unsuccessful and not entirely realistic. How can you possibly trade with Russia after all this?" he continued.
Ukraine offered an alternative proposal in this regard, namely that the power plant be operated by a joint venture with the US where the Americans can independently determine how to distribute their 50 percent stake.
Zelensky said billions of investments were needed to get the power plant back in operation, including restoring the nearby dam.
"There was about 15 hours of conversation about the plant. These are all very complex things," he added.
Separate Security Guarantee
The peace proposal ensures that Ukraine will be given "strong" security guarantees that mirror NATO's Article 5, which would require Ukraine's partners to act in the event of renewed Russian aggression.
Zelensky said a separate bilateral document with the US would outline these guarantees. This agreement will detail the conditions under which security will be provided, in particular in the event of a renewed Russian attack, and will establish a mechanism for monitoring the ceasefire.
According to him, this mechanism will use satellite technology and early warning systems to ensure effective surveillance and rapid response capabilities.
"The mood in the United States is that this is an unprecedented step against Ukraine on their part. They believe that they are providing strong security guarantees," he said.
The proposal contains other elements including maintaining the number of Ukrainian soldiers at 800,000 during peacetime, and setting a specific date for joining the European Union.
Elections and Economic Growth
The proposal proposes accelerating a free trade agreement between Ukraine and the US after the agreement is signed. Zelensky said the US wants the same deal as Russia.
Ukraine wants to get short-term privileged access to European markets and a strong global development package, which will include various economic interests, including development funds to invest in industries including technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence, as well as gas.
Including also funds for the reconstruction of areas destroyed by war.
"Ukraine will have the opportunity to determine the priority of distributing its financial resources in the territories under Ukrainian control. And this is a very important point, which we have discussed at length," Zelensky said.
The goal is to attract USD800 billion in funding through equity, grants, loans, and private sector contributions.
The draft proposal also requires Ukraine to hold general elections (pemilu) after the signing of the agreement. "This is the vision of the partners," said Zelensky.
Ukraine also asked that all prisoners since 2014 be released at once, and that civilian prisoners, political prisoners, and children be returned to Ukraine.
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