Ukraine presents U.S. revised 20-point framework to end conflict with Russia

Ukraine has presented the U.S. with a revised 20-point framework to end its conflict with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday, adding that the issue of ceding territory remains a major sticking point in negotiations.

"We have two key points of disagreement: the territories of Donetsk and everything related to them, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. These are the two topics we continue to discuss," Zelenskyy said.

"They see Ukrainian forces leaving the territory of Donetsk region, and the supposed compromise is that Russian forces do not enter this territory, which they already call a 'free economic zone'," Zelenskyy said about the U.S. plan.

The Ukrainian president has long said he has no "constitutional" or "moral" right to cede Ukrainian land, and said his citizens should have the final say on the issue of territory.

"I believe that the people of Ukraine will answer this question. Whether through elections or a referendum, there must be a position from the people of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

Apart from a 20-point framework, the general peace plan will include separate documents on security guarantees.

Ukraine, which says it has been let down by previous security assurances from allies, insists that guarantees are ratified in Parliament.

Zelenskyy said on Thursday he had an "in-depth" discussion on the matter with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Kyiv also wants to maintain a strong army after fighting ends, and Zelenskyy said the latest draft proposal puts it at 800,000 – higher than in an initial framework.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday repeated Moscow's demand that Ukraine become neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear, saying that could serve as a starting point for resolving the Ukraine issue.

Kyiv, in the latest round of frantic shuttle diplomacy, is seeking to balance out a 28-point U.S.-backed plan whose original version was seen as too favorable to Moscow.

Ukraine is under mounting U.S. pressure to quickly secure a deal with Russia.

Zelenskyy, following reports that Trump had set a Christmas deadline for Ukraine to accept the peace proposal, said Washington had not given Kyiv a strict timeline.

"I think they really wanted, or perhaps still want, to have a complete understanding of where we stand with this agreement by Christmas," he said.

Trump on Thursday said the United States will send a representative to participate in talks in Europe on Ukraine this weekend if there's a good chance of making progress on a ceasefire deal.

"We'll see whether or not we attend the meeting," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "We'll be attending the meeting on Saturday in Europe if we think there's a good chance. And we don't want to waste a lot of time if we think it's negative."

(With input from agencies)