Ukraine Unveils Revised Peace Plan, Stands Firm Against Territorial Concessions

Wed Dec 10 2025 06:05:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a bid to secure international support, Ukraine prepares a new peace proposal for the U.S., asserting its right to territorial integrity amidst ongoing talks with European leaders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out any land concessions to Russia, emphasizing the nation's legal and moral right to retain its territory. The Ukrainian government is set to propose a revised peace plan to the U.S. while engaging in discussions with European allies to counter pressures that favor unfavorable terms from Russia. Despite ongoing military tensions and recent drone attacks by Russia, Zelensky remains committed to seeking robust security guarantees as part of the peace negotiations.

Ukraine is preparing to present a revised peace plan to the White House, as it seeks to avoid making territorial concessions to Russia.

Kyiv is set to propose alternatives to the US after President Volodymyr Zelensky again ruled out surrendering land, saying he had no right to do so under Ukrainian or international law.

He made the comments as he met European and NATO leaders on Monday, part of a collective push to deter the US from backing a peace deal that includes major concessions for Ukraine, which allies fear would leave it vulnerable to a future invasion.

Meanwhile, the city of Sumy in northwestern Ukraine was left without power overnight following a Russian drone attack. The region's governor reported that over a dozen drones targeted power infrastructure, marking the latest in Russia's nightly assaults, although no fatalities were recorded.

Zelensky's ongoing diplomatic tour of Europe comes after days of intensive discussions between US and Ukrainian negotiators over the weekend, which ended without a mutually agreeable deal.

The Ukrainian president announced that his team could send a new proposal to the Americans as early as Tuesday. On the issue of territorial concessions, Zelensky stated, Russia is insisting that we give up territories, but we don't want to cede anything. We have no legal right to do so, under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law. And we don't have any moral right either. He has previously stated that any alterations to Ukraine's borders would require a public referendum.

In further developments, the initial 28-point plan proposed by the US has been reduced to 20 points, according to Interfax-Ukraine, though Zelensky confirmed no pro-Ukrainian points were removed. However, he emphasized that there was no compromise on the matter of territory, identifying control of the eastern Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as the most sensitive issues.

The leaked US-backed plan had initially proposed total control of the Donbas region be transferred to Russia, despite ongoing battles. Additionally, energy production from Zaporizhzhia would be divided between Russia and Ukraine.

Kyiv and European leaders have indicated that progress has been made in refining the draft in recent weeks, with praise directed to the Trump administration for its mediation attempts. A recent summit in Downing Street showcased unity among Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, signaling support for Ukraine as it resists US pressure.

Future security guarantees remain a pivotal topic, with ongoing efforts to cultivate an international coalition willing to provide military support to Ukraine post-peace deal. While some leaders propose deploying international troops, skepticism persists among key European defense players.

As negotiations progress, Zelensky is expected to continue talks across Europe, meeting with NATO and EU leaders. Despite claims from Moscow regarding constructive discussions, the Kremlin appears unyielding on its objectives since the onset of the invasion in February 2022.

The road to peace continues to be fraught with challenges, with Zelensky's leadership pivotal in navigating Ukraine's sovereignty amidst foreign pressures.