Is this the end? Zelenski agreed to conditions that were recently ‘science fiction’

At an unusually open and substantive meeting with journalists on Tuesday, Zelenski presented new details about the 20-point plan, which he described as “a fundamental document on ending the war, a political document between us, America, Europe and Russia.” The Ukrainian president also spoke about the concrete elements of security guarantees between Ukraine, the United States of America and European countries, which would be a key part of any peace agreement with Russia.

Zelensky said that he expects a response from Moscow on Wednesday, after the American side contacts the Kremlin.

The 20-point draft agreement is a shortened version of the original 28-point plan that the US previously discussed with the Russian side. In his statements, Zelensky stated what, according to the Ukrainian side, would be an acceptable compromise regarding the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from parts of eastern Ukraine, in the Donetsk region, which are currently not under the control of Russian forces.

That area also includes the so-called “fortification belt” – a series of fortified Ukrainian cities such as Kramatorsk and Slovyansk in the Donetsk region, which currently stand in the way of any possible Russian penetration deeper into the heart of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine must practically cede the entire Donetsk region in order for the peace plan to work.

Explaining his country’s position, the Ukrainian president said that Russia would have to withdraw its forces in proportion to the territory that would be vacated by Ukrainian troops, in order to establish a demilitarized zone around part of the current front lines. “If we establish a free economic zone here and it implies a practically demilitarized zone – which means that heavy forces withdraw from that area – and if the distance is, for example, 40 kilometers (it can be five, 10 or 40 kilometers) – then, if those two cities, Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, are our free economic zone, the Russians would have to withdraw their troops accordingly, for five, 10 or 40 kilometers,” said Zelenski.