Zelensky said a proposed 20-point peace plan could only be put to a public vote if there is a ceasefire that lasts for at least 60 days, according to Reuters.
Major Issues Still Not Resolved
The Ukrainian leader said several key matters are still unsettled in the peace proposal. These include who will control Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently occupied by Russian forces.
Zelensky said these sensitive topics were raised during his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Zelensky Questions Russia’s Peace Claims
Zelensky also accused Moscow of not matching its words with its actions. He said Russia’s behaviour in Ukraine does not fit with President Vladimir Putin’s ‘peaceful rhetoric’ during his talks with Trump, AFP reported.
Kremlin Demands Ukraine Pull Back From Donbas
At the same time, the Kremlin said Ukraine must withdraw its troops from the parts of Donbas that it still controls if it wants peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that if no agreement is reached, Ukraine could end up losing even more territory.
Putin–Trump Talks Continue
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Sunday, just before Trump met Zelensky in Miami.
Peskov said another phone call between Putin and Trump was likely soon. However, he ruled out any plans for Putin and Zelensky to speak directly.
Russia Avoids Details on Nuclear Plant and Economic Zone
Peskov refused to comment on reports about turning Donbas into a free economic zone or about the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He said it was not appropriate to discuss those issues at this time.
When asked if Ukraine must also pull its forces from the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, Peskov declined to give a clear answer.
How Much Ukrainian Land Russia Controls
Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which it took in 2014.
Russian officials claim that Moscow controls around 90 per cent of Donbas, 75 per cent of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, and smaller areas of Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk. Russia says Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson belong to it, but most of the world still recognises these areas as part of Ukraine.
Warning of Further Territorial Losses
Peskov repeated Trump’s warning that Ukraine could lose more land in the coming months if a peace deal is not reached.
