Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Monday that national security advisors from Ukraine and key European nations are finalizing revisions to the latest draft peace proposal, aiming to conclude the ongoing conflict. Speaking to journalists via WhatsApp, Zelensky indicated the refined framework, which has been condensed to 20 key points, is expected to be completed and submitted to the United States for review by Tuesday evening. This diplomatic push focuses on securing lasting stability, addressing Ukraine’s massive reconstruction needs, and cementing robust, legally mandated defense assurances, particularly from Washington.
The initiative follows intensive diplomatic engagements earlier the same day in London, where Zelensky met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to align strategies on sustained support and diplomatic pathways.
Streamlining the Framework
The latest blueprint represents an evolution of previous proposals. According to Zelensky, the current document has been significantly streamlined, reducing the core provisions to 20 points. Elements deemed “openly non-pro-Ukrainian” have been strategically removed to focus priorities.
However, the president acknowledged that considerable challenges remain, particularly regarding territorial issues, where no mutual compromise has yet been achieved. Despite these hurdles, the revised plan prominently features clauses related to financing Ukraine’s massive post-war reconstruction efforts and securing international defense guarantees—elements considered essential for long-term national viability.
Prioritizing US Security Commitments
A core focus of the Ukrainian diplomatic strategy is securing ironclad security guarantees. Zelensky explicitly identified the United States as the pivotal source for these commitments, emphasizing that they must be more than mere promises.
“The strongest security guarantees we can get are from the United States,” he stated, “provided they are not empty promises, but legally binding and approved by the US Congress.” This underscores Kyiv’s recognition of the necessity for institutional, bipartisan US endorsement to ensure the durability and reliability of any future security pact, transforming assurances into enforceable obligations.
The basis for this refined peace plan originated from discussions conducted between US and Ukrainian delegations in Miami, Florida. Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council and the nation’s lead peace negotiator, presented this foundation to President Zelensky, setting the stage for the current European consultations.
Kyiv’s immediate move—to seek European concurrence before transmitting the draft to Washington—suggests a concerted effort to build a unified Western position, strengthening the proposal’s leverage. The next critical step will be the formal introduction of the document to American counterparts and the subsequent diplomatic push to integrate the required legally binding security commitments into the framework, an outcome that hinges heavily on Congressional approval. This process will determine the immediate viability of advancing comprehensive peace negotiations.