Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that documentation for the updated 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict is about 90 percent complete, and that he expects to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on December 28 to discuss "sensitive" issues, including security guarantees for Ukraine and territorial matters. 

He added that if Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a 60-day ceasefire, Kyiv would submit the entire peace plan to a nationwide referendum.

However, on the same day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the 20-point peace plan publicized by Ukraine is "fundamentally different" from the 27-point framework Russia has discussed with the United States in recent weeks, underscoring persistent gaps between the parties.

Russia: Ukrainian peace plan 'fundamentally different'

Zelenskyy noted that security guarantees for Ukraine involve multiple documents and said Kyiv hopes to discuss all related issues with Washington. 

Stressing the importance of direct talks, Zelenskyy said a meeting with Trump is necessary to finalize as many agreements as possible. He added that the peace plan would need to be signed jointly by Ukraine, the United States, Russia and European countries, warning that without the participation of Russia and Europe, the document could not be concluded.

Zelenskyy reiterated that if Putin agrees to a 60-day ceasefire, he would put the entire peace plan to a nationwide referendum. He acknowledged that holding a referendum would involve political, logistical and security risks, noting that 60 days is the minimum time required to complete preparations.

Ryabkov, however, reiterated that the Ukrainian proposal differs fundamentally from the 27-point peace framework Russia has discussed with the United States. He said a resolution to the conflict is genuinely approaching, but whether a final breakthrough can be achieved depends on the political will of the other side.

Ryabkov accused Ukraine and the European Union of undermining the negotiation process rather than working toward an agreement. He also argued that setting deadlines or timelines would not facilitate a deal, urging all parties to focus instead on substantive issues.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Russia hopes its talks with the United States on Ukraine will yield concrete results, but stressed that Moscow has no intention of making concessions on its core positions.

Trump said in an interview with Politico on Friday that any peace agreement involving Ukraine and Russia must ultimately receive his approval, adding that Zelenskyy "doesn't have anything until I approve it." While Trump did not rush to endorse Zelenskyy's latest proposal, he said he believes the December 28 meeting will be constructive. He also said communications with both Zelenskyy and Putin are "moving well" and that he expects to speak with Putin soon.

Experts: Russia aims to end the conflict on its own terms

On Friday, Ukraine held its first meeting focused on organizing and implementing elections in the post-war period, preparing for the possible ceasefire in the future despite multiple challenges. First Deputy Speaker of Ukraine's parliament Oleksandr Korniyenko said many polling stations across the country have been destroyed due to the ongoing conflict. Central Election Commission Chairman Oleh Didenko added that landmines pose a major security risk to election preparations.

According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting on Friday to review Russia's national armament program for 2027–2036, as well as a state plan for developing the defense industrial complex.

Putin said that compared with 2022, output of urgently needed frontline equipment by 2025 has increased severalfold. Tank production has risen 2.2 times, light armored vehicles 3.7 times, military aircraft 4.6 times, military vehicles 5.7 times, rocket artillery and missile systems 9.6 times, communications and electronic warfare equipment 12.5 times, and individual body armor nearly 18 times. Production of ammunition and strike weapons – those with the highest consumption rates – has increased by more than 22 times.

Analysts say Russia's earlier refusal to comment on Ukraine's 20-point peace plan reflects Moscow's belief that the United States does not fully support the proposal, leaving Russia in no hurry to engage in direct talks with Ukraine.

With Russia currently holding certain advantages on the battlefield, experts say Moscow does not feel pressure to end the conflict quickly. They also note that Russia appears to place greater importance on its relationship with the United States, which may explain its dismissive stance toward Kyiv.

Analysts argue that if the plan had been released by the United States and formally communicated to Russia, Moscow would have taken it more seriously. Overall, experts say Russia aims to maximize its interests and bring the conflict to an end under conditions it considers most favorable.