- December 24, 2025
- 11:22 am
- World News
On December 24, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time revealed the content of a draft “basic document” on ending the war — a 20-point plan that, according to him, is being discussed between Ukraine, the USA, Europe, and Russia. Zelensky emphasized that this is a preliminary draft, and the most sensitive issues — primarily territorial ones — may ultimately be resolved at the leadership level.
The publicity of these “20 points” is important for two reasons. First, the document for the first time forms a framework: from a ceasefire to a mechanism for control and sanctions for violations. Second, the text already shows narrow points — the Zaporizhzhia NPP, territory, and the formula for security guarantees, where attempts are being made to combine military, sanction, and political parts into one package.
What exactly Zelensky said and why it was voiced now
Zelensky made it clear that the “20 points” are not a “ready-made peace” but a foundation to which additional documents and agreements can be attached. He also linked the next step to Moscow’s reaction after contacts with the American side and separately noted: the topic of territories is the most complex knot.
20 points — briefly and to the point
Below is a summary of the points that Zelensky publicly announced.
Confirmation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Complete and unconditional non-aggression agreement between Russia and Ukraine + mechanism for monitoring the line of contact (surveillance technologies and early notification of violations are mentioned).
Strong security guarantees for Ukraine.
The size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in peacetime — at the level of 800 thousand.
Security guarantees from the USA, NATO, and European signatories, according to the logic “like Article 5”. The idea of automatic return of sanctions in case of a new Russian invasion was also discussed. In one of the variants, the wording about “US compensation” was mentioned, but Zelensky said that this part has now been removed.
Russia must enshrine the policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine in its laws and documents, including ratification by parliament.
Ukraine’s path to the EU: membership “at a certain time” + short-term privileged access to the EU market.
Development and investment package for Ukraine by a separate agreement.
Recovery and humanitarian funds: the declared goal is to attract 800 billion dollars (capital, grants, debt instruments, private sector).
After the framework agreement, Ukraine accelerates the process of concluding a free trade agreement with the USA.
Confirmation of non-nuclear status under the NPT.
Zaporizhzhia NPP — the first point where a compromise has not been found. Various options for joint management have been voiced: the American model with shares for the parties and American management; the Ukrainian option — a joint venture between the USA and Ukraine “50/50”.
Educational and anti-discrimination programs, religious tolerance, protection of minority languages according to EU rules.
Territories — the most complex point: the de facto line of troop deployment on the date of the agreement in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions is fixed. Zelensky confirmed that Russia demands the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the Donetsk region. The format of a demilitarized/free economic zone is also being discussed.
After agreeing on territorial arrangements, the parties undertake not to change them by force.
Freedom of commercial use of the Dnieper and the Black Sea; a separate maritime agreement on freedom of navigation; Kinburn Spit — demilitarized.
Humanitarian committee: exchange of prisoners of war “all for all”, return of civilian detainees and hostages (including children and political prisoners), measures to help war victims.
Ukraine must hold elections as soon as possible after the agreement is concluded.
The document must be legally binding; control is proposed through a “Peace Council” chaired by President Trump. Participants in the mechanism: Ukraine, Europe, NATO, Russia, USA. For violations — sanctions.
After the parties’ consent — immediate full ceasefire, then ratification by parliament and/or a nationwide referendum “yes/no”. Zelensky allowed that elections and a referendum could be combined. Security guarantees come into force only after full approval.
Where the “red zones” are: three points that will decide everything
Zaporizhzhia NPP
This is not only energy. It is control, safety of the facility, access, and responsibility for incidents. The dispute over the NPP management model shows: the USA is trying to integrate the station’s topic into the overall structure of guarantees and control, while Kyiv does not want to turn joint management with Russia into “legitimization” of the occupation presence.
Territories
Fixing the line of contact on the date of the agreement is a classic “freeze” mechanism. But it is here that the conflict of goals is visible: Moscow is pushing demands on the Donetsk region, Kyiv is holding the framework of sovereignty and the principle “do not change by force”. This block, judging by Zelensky’s words, will require negotiations at the highest level.
Security guarantees and sanctions
The points about guarantees and control are trying to assemble a hybrid: a conditional “Article 5”, a sanction lever, an external supervisory body. The weak point is legal specifics: who records the violation, what is considered a violation, what measures are launched automatically and how quickly.
Why this is important for the audience in Israel
For Israel, the Ukrainian track is not “distant politics”. Hundreds of thousands of people with family ties to Ukraine live in the country; any decisions on ceasefire, exchanges, return of civilians, and security conditions directly affect humanitarian flows, volunteer networks, and diaspora support.
There is also a practical aspect: the Black Sea, trade routes, energy, the role of the USA as the architect of control — all this affects the overall regional configuration, where sanctions, international guarantees, and the ability to maintain a ceasefire regime become part of a large system of pressure and deterrence.
What next
According to Zelensky, the next step is Russia’s reaction after contacts with the American side. Further negotiations at the leadership level are possible — it is there, according to Kyiv’s logic, that the most sensitive topics, primarily territory, can be discussed.
And the main question against the background of this publication sounds like this: do you believe that a package with a referendum, sanctions, and external control will really hold the ceasefire, or is it just an intermediate pause before a new phase?
NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency
