Car Bomb Hits Moscow as Zelenskyy Unveils 20-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine

Bombs in Moscow, peace plans from Kyiv. On December 25, 2025, the war in Ukraine is entering a paradoxical phase, marked by fierce military escalation and the most detailed diplomatic proposals seen in months.

Escalation on the Ground

A car explosion in Moscow killed three people, including two police officers. An official from Ukraine’s military intelligence, known as GUR, told The Associated Press that the attack was part of a Ukrainian operation. Concurrently, Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that Russian air defense downed 16 Ukrainian drones heading for the capital on Wednesday. Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported destroying 172 Ukrainian drones overnight across the country.

Ukraine claimed successful strikes on a synthetic rubber plant in Russia’s Tula region and a marine drone storage facility in occupied Crimea. The war's impact has also spiraled into an environmental crisis. According to AFP, a sunflower oil spill caused by Russian bombardment has contaminated the shoreline around Odesa, killing wildlife.

A Breakthrough in Peace Talks?

In a major development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed for the first time details of a 20-point plan to end the war, agreed upon by US and Ukrainian negotiators. The plan, now under review by Moscow, includes a proposal for Ukraine to withdraw troops from its eastern industrial heartland if Moscow also pulls back, creating a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. Zelenskyy added that a similar arrangement could apply to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and stressed any final deal would require a referendum in Ukraine.

The Kremlin's response remains cautious. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Moscow would decide its position after being briefed by its envoy. To date, Russia has given no public indication it would agree to withdraw from captured territory and has insisted that Ukraine relinquish its claims to the Donbas region.

Diplomacy and Domestic Pressures

A poll from Russia’s state pollster VTsIOM suggests a growing desire for peace, with a majority of Russians expecting the war to end in 2026. Seventy percent of respondents saw 2026 as a more successful year than 2025, and 55 percent linked that hope to a possible end to the conflict. This could indicate the Kremlin is testing public reaction to a potential settlement.

International diplomatic efforts also continue. French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the situation with NATO chief Mark Rutte, stating that work to provide Ukraine with security guarantees will continue in Paris starting in January.