The events surrounding Ukraine, the ways to resolve the conflict, and the positions of the parties have recently been at the center of international attention. Peace plans proposed by various parties and their discussion, as well as various possibilities regarding the future of the conflict, are on the agenda.
Redaksiya reports that for the past two years, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been consistent on two main issues: the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the exclusion of the country's membership in NATO. Putin confirmed this stance at his annual press conference on December 19.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented a new 20-point peace plan, significantly different from the plan presented in October. This new proposal is considered a smart compromise, encompassing security guarantees for Ukraine and plans for the reconstruction of the war-torn country. Russia's confidence in its military superiority on the battlefield calls into question the purpose of continuing negotiations. According to many experts, the main goal in Moscow is to restore business relations with the United States and evade full responsibility for intervention in Ukraine.
The new peace plan envisages the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. The document also states that Ukrainian troops will withdraw from Donbas only after Russia takes the same step. Specifically, the peace plan provides for "solid" security guarantees for Ukraine and maintaining the number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the level of 800,000 soldiers. Russia must also enshrine a policy of not attacking Europe and Ukraine in all necessary laws and ratification documents.
According to "The New York Times," the likelihood of Moscow accepting the renewed peace plan is low. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is encouraged by his army's "successes" on the battlefield, and some points of the renewed peace plan may be met with a negative reaction from the Russian public. Journalists also recalled that former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev reported that approximately 417,000 new soldiers had signed new contracts to serve in the Russian army in 2025. This aligns with the assessments of independent analysts.
In addition, Russia is interested in delaying additional sanctions or other economic restrictions by the United States. Sanctions imposed by the US against Russian companies Rosneft and Lukoil have already forced Russia to sell its oil at significant discounts. Russian international affairs analyst Aleksey Naumov, commenting on the new peace plan, stated, "This is pure irony. The goal is clear: to present this to the Americans as a 'compromise' and then blame Russia for its failure." Russian analyst Georgi Bovt told journalists that "The plan does not offer any compromise regarding territories or the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The inability to resolve the territorial issue makes this plan unrealistic."