Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and the United States are nearing the completion of a framework that outlines security guarantees and economic arrangements. This framework is linked to a proposed peace plan aimed at resolving ongoing conflicts, although Russia has indicated it will demand substantial amendments before agreeing to any peace deal.

During a press conference held in Kyiv on December 22, Zelenskyy explained that discussions with U.S. officials have resulted in a comprehensive 20-point plan. This plan, accompanied by supporting documents, involves security guarantees that encompass Ukraine, the United States, and European partners. While acknowledging that the framework isn’t perfect, Zelenskyy emphasized it as a significant step in the right direction.

“The plan consists of 20 points,” Zelenskyy stated. “It may not be perfect in every aspect, but it exists. It includes security guarantees involving us, the Europeans, and the United States, as well as a framework document.”

President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 23, 2025. (Al Drago/Reuters)

Zelenskyy also mentioned a separate bilateral agreement with Washington concerning security guarantees, which is set to be reviewed by the U.S. Congress. He noted that most of the crucial annexes addressing Ukraine’s military requirements have been largely settled.

“I saw the first developments, there are almost 90%, to be honest, exactly those attachments that are important for us, what our army and Ukraine can count on,” he said, describing the draft as “quite decent.”

A Christmas tree remains in a living room damaged by a Russian drone strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Dec. 16, 2025. Russian troops attacked a nine-story apartment building with a drone, starting a fire in several flats and injuring three people. (Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

He also said a first version of an agreement on Ukraine’s recovery had been prepared, calling it an economic strategy that, together with the security documents, forms “the basic block of all documents.”

Zelenskyy warned, however, that diplomacy has not reduced the immediate military threat from Russia. He criticized Moscow for rejecting proposals for a Christmas ceasefire, calling it a “bad signal,” and warned of potential attacks during the holiday period.

Ukrainian servicemen fire a self-propelled howitzer toward Russian positions at the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Aug. 20, 2025. (Danylo Antoniuk/AP Photo)

“When Russia says there will be no Christmas ceasefire, I think that this is, in principle, always what they say, they emphasize intimidation,” Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine faces an air-defense shortfall and urged civilians to remain vigilant.

Reuters also reported that Zelenskyy confirmed Russian forces captured a border village in Ukraine’s Sumy region, taking dozens of civilians and 13 Ukrainian soldiers prisoner. He said Ukrainian troops refrained from striking Russian forces because civilians were present. Reuters noted it could not independently verify the account and that Russia had not commented.

On the Russian side, the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the U.S. peace proposals, with Moscow expected to formulate its position in the coming days, according to Reuters and Anadolu Agency.

President Donald Trump shakes the hand of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Bloomberg News reported that Russia views the 20-point plan agreed to between Ukraine and the U.S. as only a starting point. According to a person close to the Kremlin, Moscow intends to seek key changes, including additional restrictions on Ukraine’s military, arguing that the proposal lacks provisions important to Russia and leaves many questions unanswered.

The emerging positions underline a widening gap between Kyiv’s portrayal of progress toward security guarantees and Moscow’s insistence on renegotiating core elements of the U.S.-backed plan as diplomacy continues.