7 Critical Moves in Ukraine’s Revised Peace Plan as War Nears Year Four, with Zelenskyy rejecting land concessions and seeking security guarantees.Ukraine will submit a revised peace plan to the United States on Tuesday, intensifying diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s nearly four-year-long invasion while pushing back against a U.S.-backed framework widely viewed as favoring Moscow.
The revised proposal follows high-level talks in London between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and key European leaders — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz — at what several officials described as a decisive moment for the future of Ukraine and European security.
As battlefield pressure mounts and Ukraine faces ongoing attacks on its energy infrastructure, Kyiv is racing to secure firm Western backing while resisting growing pressure to compromise on sovereignty, particularly on territorial concessions demanded by Russia.
7 Critical Moves in Ukraine’s Revised Peace Plan as War Nears Year Four
A Revised Plan Under U.S. Pressure
The White House has been urging Kyiv to quickly accept a negotiated settlement, citing the prolonged nature of the conflict and mounting economic and political costs.
The Trump administration last month circulated a 28-point ceasefire framework, crafted after consultations with Moscow, that alarmed Kyiv and European capitals alike.
The proposal reportedly included:
- Limits on Ukraine’s military size
- A ban on NATO membership
- Territorial concessions to Russia
European leaders and Ukrainian officials argued that such terms risked rewarding Russian aggression and setting a dangerous precedent for international security.
Zelenskiy confirmed that Ukraine’s revised peace plan includes 20 points, aimed at rebalancing negotiations and addressing what Kyiv sees as unacceptable compromises.
No Agreement on Territorial Concessions
At the heart of the dispute is territory. Russia has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine must cede land, including large parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions — areas Moscow claims it will seize “by military or other means.”
Zelenskiy was unequivocal. “Ukraine cannot give up any part of its land,” he told reporters after the London talks.
He acknowledged that territorial issues remain the most difficult obstacle in talks with Washington. “The mood of the Americans, in principle, is for finding a compromise,” Zelenskiy said. “But a compromise has not yet been found there.”
For Kyiv, any agreement that legitimizes Russian occupation is seen as politically impossible and strategically disastrous.
Europe Moves to Bolster Ukraine’s Hand
The hastily arranged London meeting underscored Europe’s determination to prevent Ukraine from being forced into a lopsided settlement.
Starmer, Macron and Merz used the talks to:
- Reinforce unity behind Kyiv
- Coordinate positions ahead of U.S. talks
- Explore long-term security guarantees for Ukraine
Starmer stressed that peace must not come at the cost of Ukraine’s future. “If there is to be a ceasefire, it has to be just and it has to be lasting,” he said.
Merz described the moment as “decisive… for all of us,” while Macron emphasized Europe’s leverage through sanctions, military support and Russia’s weakening economy.
Security Guarantees at the Core of Kyiv’s Demands
A central objective of Ukraine’s revised peace plan is securing U.S. and European security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression.
Kyiv fears that any ceasefire without enforcement mechanisms would simply give Moscow time to regroup and attack again — a scenario Ukraine has experienced since Russia’s initial invasion in 2014.
Zelenskiy highlighted the delicate balance required:
“There are some things we can’t manage without the Americans, things we can’t manage without Europe.”
Ukraine is pushing for:
- Binding defense commitments
- Long-term funding for weapons and air defense
- Continued sanctions pressure on Russia
Without such guarantees, Ukrainian leaders argue, peace would be little more than a pause in hostilities.
Frozen Russian Assets Back in Focus
Another major issue discussed in London was the use of Russian assets frozen in the West to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction. Over €210 billion in Russian central bank assets are immobilized in Europe, most of it in Belgium-based financial institutions.
Leaders from Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden have urged the European Union to move quickly on a stalled proposal to redirect those funds to Ukraine.
However, legal concerns persist. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has warned that Belgium could face lawsuits if Russia challenges asset seizures.
EU leaders are expected to debate the issue again at a high-level meeting in Brussels on December 18.
Washington Talks Show Limited Progress
While diplomacy intensifies in Europe, progress with Washington remains uncertain.Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow last week before holding days of talks with Ukrainian officials near Miami.
Those discussions ended without a breakthrough.
Zelenskiy described the talks as “constructive but not easy.”
Trump, however, voiced frustration. “I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskiy hasn’t yet read the proposal,” Trump said, referring to the revised U.S. framework.
The comment underscored the growing strain between Washington and Kyiv, even as officials on both sides insist negotiations continue.
Ukraine Faces a Grim Battlefield Reality
Diplomacy unfolds against the backdrop of some of Ukraine’s toughest conditions since the war began. Russian forces are grinding forward in eastern Ukraine, while a renewed campaign targeting energy infrastructure has plunged cities into rolling blackouts.
Over the weekend, Russia launched one of its largest combined attacks involving:
- Hundreds of drones
- More than 50 missiles
Kyiv, Odesa and several other regions were hit, while Ukraine claimed it struck Russia’s Ryazan oil refinery, deep inside Russian territory. Civilian suffering continues to mount as winter temperatures fall.
European Fears of a Destabilized Continent
European leaders fear that forcing Ukraine to accept Russian terms could destabilize the continent for decades.
Officials worry a weak settlement would:
- Encourage future Russian aggression
- Undermine international law
- Threaten NATO’s eastern flank
A recently published U.S. National Security Strategy has further strained relations, criticizing European governments for what it described as unrealistic expectations and lack of resolve.
The document also called on allies to shoulder more responsibility for regional security — a signal that Europe may need to do more if U.S. support wanes.
Ukraine’s Priorities for the ‘New Diplomatic Week’
In a national address, Zelenskiy laid out Ukraine’s immediate priorities as talks continue:
- Air defense systems
- Long-term defense funding
- Security guarantees
- Unified negotiating positions with allies
“First and foremost, security issues, support for our resilience, and support packages for our defence,” he said.
The president is expected to continue consultations in Brussels and Rome, while his team works with U.S. officials to narrow differences ahead of any potential ceasefire announcement.
A Pivotal Moment With No Easy Outcomes
As the war approaches its fourth year, Ukraine finds itself navigating an increasingly narrow path.
Kyiv must:
- Resist territorial concessions
- Maintain Western military backing
- Avoid alienating Washington
- Ensure any peace is enforceable and lasting
European leaders have made clear they will not pressure Zelenskiy into accepting a deal that compromises Ukraine’s sovereignty.
But with U.S. aid slowing, Russian advances continuing, and winter deepening the humanitarian crisis, the coming weeks may determine not just how the war ends — but what kind of security order emerges in Europe afterward.
For Ukraine, the message remains unchanged:
Peace is necessary, but surrender is not an option.
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