Ukraine is moving into a new phase of diplomacy: Kyiv is preparing a **reworked peace plan built around its existing 10‑point “Peace Formula,” the revised US–Ukraine 28‑point framework, and fresh European proposals**, while President Volodymyr Zelensky remains firm that **no Ukrainian territory will be traded for peace**.[2][4][1]
As the war nears its fourth year, pressure for a negotiated settlement is intensifying in Washington, European capitals, and parts of the Global South.[2][3] Yet any deal must bridge a fundamental gap: **Russia continues to demand recognition of occupied territories and a neutral, demilitarised Ukraine**, while **Kyiv insists on full restoration of its 1991 borders and accountability for aggression**.[3][4][5]
Against this backdrop, Zelensky’s team has begun shaping what officials describe as a **new, comprehensive peace plan** that consolidates several diplomatic tracks:
– the long‑standing **10‑point “Peace Formula”** first unveiled in 2022[4][6]
– a **revised 28‑point US-led framework**, currently being refined with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida[2]
– and a **European “E3” (UK–France–Germany) counter‑proposal** that gives Ukraine security guarantees while trying to reassure Russia and NATO alike.[1][4]
### From “Peace Formula” to a broader roadmap
Zelensky’s original **10‑point plan** remains the political backbone of Kyiv’s position.[4][6] It calls for:
– nuclear and energy security
– food security
– release of prisoners and deported children
– **restoration of Ukraine’s 1991 borders and full Russian withdrawal**[4]
– prosecution of war crimes and ecological reparations
– binding guarantees against future Russian aggression
– and a multilateral peace conference leading to an international treaty.[4][6]
In European and Ukrainian officials’ words, this is the **ceiling, not the floor**: any new plan can refine mechanisms and timelines, but **cannot dilute sovereignty or territorial integrity**.[4][6]
### The revised US–Ukraine 28‑point plan
Recent **high‑level talks in Florida** between senior US officials and Ukraine’s delegation, led by Security Council chief Rustem Umerov, have focused on reshaping a controversial **28‑point framework** first drafted in earlier US–Russia contacts.[2]
The original version was criticised in Kyiv and Europe for provisions that reportedly:
– limited Ukraine’s armed forces
– blocked NATO membership
– **conceded the Donbas region to Russia**
– and imposed rapid national elections under wartime pressure.[2]
Negotiators now say the plan has been **significantly revised**, with an emphasis on **sovereignty, independence, and long‑term stability**, though detailed clauses remain confidential.[2] Zelensky has signalled “cautious hope” that the evolving document could become a **practical roadmap to a “dignified end” to the war**, provided core red lines are respected.[2][4]
### Europe’s E3 counter‑proposal
Meanwhile, **Britain, France, and Germany** — the so‑called **E3** — have tabled their own proposal, explicitly designed as a **counter‑weight to earlier US–Russia drafts**.[1][4] According to summaries shared with European lawmakers, this plan:
– **reaffirms Ukraine’s full sovereignty**
– calls for a **non‑aggression pact between Russia, Ukraine, and NATO** to address Moscow’s stated security anxieties[1]
– offers **binding security guarantees** to Ukraine, while
– **capping its armed forces at around 800,000 personnel** and
– **barring permanent NATO bases in Ukraine in peacetime**.[1]
The E3 framework also builds in:
– a large‑scale **reconstruction and redevelopment package for Ukraine**
– phased **sanctions relief** for Russia, linked to verified implementation
– and even the possibility of **Russia’s return to a re‑configured G8**, if it complies with the agreement over time.[1]
A **ceasefire** would start only after a political deal is signed, under monitoring by a new **“Board of Peace.”** Territorial talks would be anchored on the **current line of contact**, a formulation that worries many in Kyiv who fear it could freeze Russian gains.[1][5]
### Zelensky’s red line: no land for peace
Throughout these manoeuvres, Zelensky has reiterated that **Ukraine will not cede territory in exchange for an end to hostilities**.[3][4][5]
His position rests on three pillars:
– **International law**: The UN Charter prohibits acquiring territory by force; accepting Russian control over occupied regions would undermine that principle.[3][4]
– **Domestic politics**: After years of sacrifice, any government agreeing to amputate territory would face intense public backlash and likely political collapse.
– **Security logic**: Ukrainian officials argue that **rewarding aggression invites future attacks**, whereas restoring 1991 borders and embedding strong guarantees is the only durable solution.[4][6]
Russian demands move in the opposite direction. Moscow continues to seek:
– recognition of all land it occupies
– guarantees that Ukraine will **never** join NATO
– limits on Ukraine’s military power
– and broad sanctions relief.[3][5]
This **strategic clash over borders and alignment** is why Kyiv’s new plan is framed not as a compromise on territory, but as a **package of security, accountability, and reconstruction measures** that might, over time, make a full withdrawal more palatable to Russia’s elites.[4][5][6]
### Emerging shape of the new peace plan
Although the draft remains under wraps, public signals from Kyiv, Washington, and European capitals suggest the **new Ukrainian peace plan** will likely:
– reaffirm the **10‑point Peace Formula** as the normative baseline[4][6]
– incorporate elements of the **revised 28‑point US–Ukraine framework**, especially on sequencing a ceasefire, verification, and economic guarantees[2]
– draw on E3 ideas for **security guarantees, force caps, and non‑aggression arrangements**, while tightening language to avoid legitimising territorial losses.[1][4]
Diplomatic sources indicate that **London, Paris, and Berlin** have already met Zelensky and senior Ukrainian officials to discuss how these strands can be woven into a **single, Ukrainian‑owned proposal** presented at future peace summits.[4]
### Risks and opportunities
The stakes are high. On one side lies the possibility of:
– a **monitored ceasefire**
– the start of a **massive reconstruction drive**
– and gradual reintegration of Russia into some international forums, conditional on compliance.[1][2]
On the other side are clear risks:
– a **frozen conflict** that normalises occupation
– a precedent that **borders can be changed by force**
– and deepening fractures between the US, Europe, and Ukraine if Kyiv feels pressured to cross its red lines.[3][4][5]
For now, Zelensky is betting that a **unified Western front behind a robust, Ukrainian‑drafted peace plan** can both reassure sceptical Ukrainians and increase pressure on Moscow, without conceding what he calls the country’s “soul” — its territory and sovereignty.[4][5]
How far that bet can go, without land changing hands, will define the next chapter of the war — and of European security itself.
Original source: BBC News – Ukraine prepares new peace plan as Zelensky rules out giving up land