Ukraine Considers Demilitarized Free Economic Zone in Donbas Pending Referendum

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed willingness to withdraw troops from the eastern Donbas region, proposing the establishment of a demilitarized free economic zone monitored by international forces, provided Russian troops also withdraw.

This proposal is part of a broader 20-point peace plan developed in recent negotiations with U.S. support. Zelenskyy emphasized that any agreement would require approval through a public referendum.

Discussions also addressed the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The U.S. suggested a tripartite management structure involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, each holding equal stakes. Ukraine countered with a proposal for a joint venture between the U.S. and Ukraine, allowing the U.S. to determine the distribution of their share, potentially including Russia.

A separate security annex, modeled after NATO’s Article 5, is proposed to commit Ukraine’s allies to respond to potential future Russian aggression. The draft plan also calls for Russian troop withdrawals from several regions, including Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv, and proposes maintaining Ukraine’s armed forces at 800,000 during peacetime.

The plan outlines post-war elections, significant economic recovery investments totaling $800 billion, accelerated trade agreements, and the return of prisoners and civilians held since 2014. Zelenskyy acknowledged substantial alignment with the U.S. but noted ongoing disagreements in certain areas.