Control of Donbas, the Zaporizhzhia NPP, and maintaining the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: what Ukraine demands in its version of the peace plan

Ukraine is demanding, in its own version of the peace plan, control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and preservation of the current size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Об этом пишет The Wall Street Journal.

The outlet writes that President Volodymyr Zelensky’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan essentially boils down to the formula: “yes, but…”.

“Zelensky is ready to hold elections, but for that a ceasefire is necessary. He says that Russia may retain some involvement in Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which it currently occupies, but control over it must be exercised by Ukraine and the U.S. He agrees that the size of the Ukrainian army may be limited, but at its current level,” the paper summarizes the essence of Ukraine’s counterproposals sent to the White House.

On the territorial question, Zelensky, without directly rejecting Trump’s plan, has requested more detail.

“For example, if Ukraine pulls back, what will restrain the advance of Russian forces? Or what would prevent Moscow from infiltrating the zone under the guise of civilians in order to seize control of it?” is how WSJ describes the position of the presidential office.

At the same time, The New York Times writes that Ukraine’s counterproposal sent to the U.S. explicitly rejects giving up control over Donbas.

Five current and former Western officials familiar with the document told the paper about this.

According to them, Kyiv insists on preserving control over the territories in the east that remain under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In the previous American version of the plan, it was envisaged that all of Donbas would be transferred to Russia, the European and former U.S. officials said.

In addition, the Ukrainian document removed the U.S. provision requiring Ukraine to renounce its right to join NATO, the paper’s sources noted.

Earlier, Trump again accused Zelensky of being unwilling to make peace, saying that the only opponent of the U.S.-proposed peace plan remains the president of Ukraine.

The outlet Axios has also written that the White House is putting strong pressure on Ukraine to get it to approve its plan, which includes territorial concessions.