Zelensky Says U.S. Proposed Turning About 30% Of Donetsk Into Economic 'Buffer'; Kyiv Insists Any Deal Must Be Voted On

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that the United States has put forward a proposal under which Ukrainian forces would withdraw from parts of Donetsk Oblast that Kyiv still controls, with that territory converted into a special economic area Moscow describes as a "demilitarized zone."

Under the proposed compromise, Ukraine would cede roughly 30% of Donetsk province — territory Russia has demanded — but that land would be designated as a free economic zone where, according to the proposal, Russian forces would not advance, Zelensky told reporters.

"They see that Ukrainian troops are leaving the territory of Donetsk Oblast, and the compromise seems to be that Russian troops will not enter this territory," Zelensky said, while stressing that any territorial concessions to end the war must be approved by the Ukrainian people, either through elections or a referendum.

The president emphasized that any withdrawal must be symmetrical. He argued both armies should pull back by the same distance, warning that a unilateral Ukrainian withdrawal would be unreasonable and would weaken Kyiv's position on the ground.

"What will restrain [Russia] from advancing? Or from infiltrating, disguised as civilians?" Zelensky asked, calling such risks "very serious concerns" that could derail the proposal.

Diplomatic Context

Zelensky described the idea as part of ongoing U.S. efforts to find a rapid diplomatic off-ramp that both Kyiv and Moscow might accept. He said negotiations among Washington, Kyiv and other partners are focused on three documents: a principal 20-point framework peace agreement, a separate set of security guarantees, and plans for reconstruction.

He said the discussions followed a high-level virtual session on security guarantees that involved senior U.S. and NATO officials. (Some media accounts have named individuals in that meeting; titles and attributions in early reports vary.)

Zelensky added that the current documents grew from a 28-point plan first floated in mid-November and have been revised with input from multiple parties, including European capitals.

Security Guarantees And Practical Concerns

Kyiv is pushing for security guarantees that are tangible and credible. "The U.S. said they want Ukraine to have realistic security guarantees this time, approved by Congress, so that we can feel them, so that we have weapons," Zelensky said.

He also raised a possible arrangement for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, occupied by Russian forces since early in the 2022 invasion: one option might be some form of joint Ukrainian‑American control of the facility on the left bank of the Dnipro River.

But Zelensky warned that "the final mile is the hardest. Everything could fall apart for many reasons," citing tension between U.S. pressure for a speedy resolution and, in his view, Russia's lack of interest in ending the war. He said the U.S. push for a quicker conclusion, as described in talks, does not include a deadline or an interim cease-fire while negotiators work toward a final deal.

On The Ground

With Ukrainian forces facing losses on parts of the front and continued attacks on cities and energy infrastructure as winter approaches, Zelensky said stopping the fighting is essential to avoid further erosion of Kyiv's bargaining position. "Much depends on our military — what they can hold, where they can stop the enemy, what they can destroy. This affects the entire configuration," he said.