Zelensky Hails 'New Ideas' in Peace Talks as Russia Cautiously Reviews 20-Point Plan

Is an end to the war in sight? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has struck a positive tone after talks with U.S. envoys, signaling a potential shift in the stalled peace negotiations. The Kremlin, however, remains cautious, highlighting the gap that still exists between the two sides.

A 20-Point Plan from Florida

On Thursday, Zelensky said he held a nearly hour-long call with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, envoys for U.S. President Donald Trump. He claimed the conversation yielded "new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and... timing on how to bring a real peace closer." This appears to be a follow-up to an updated 20-point peace plan agreed upon by U.S. and Ukrainian envoys in Florida a day earlier.

The updated proposal reportedly includes the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern Donbas region and the creation of a demilitarized zone. Crucially, it's said to include security guarantees from the U.S., Nato, and Europeans for a coordinated military response if Russia were to invade again. Zelensky also mentioned a "free economic zone" in the Donbas as a potential option.

Russia's Measured Response and Ongoing War

Moscow's reaction was more reserved. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that they were analyzing proposals brought back from the U.S. by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. "We are examining this material, and depending on the decisions made by the head of state, we will continue our communication with the Americans," he said.

While these diplomatic efforts inch forward, fighting continues on the ground. The Ukrainian military announced on Thursday that it had struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia's southern Rostov region with cruise missiles, a key facility supplying fuel to Russian forces in occupied eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry claimed its forces had taken control of the Sviato-Pokrovske settlement in the Donetsk region.