Zelensky proposes ceasefire plan: buffer zone under third-country management

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has put forward a proposal to settle the war, envisaging a ceasefire, troop withdrawal, and the creation of a buffer zone.

This was reported by The Times, citing statements made by the president on Sunday.

According to Zelensky, Kyiv is developing the plan together with envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump and European officials. The plan calls for a ceasefire along the front line, a mutual withdrawal of Russian and Ukrainian forces from the line of contact, and the establishment of a buffer zone managed by a third country.

“As far as we know, the American side has a few more ideas. They want to find the right moment to share them. We are waiting for them,” Zelensky said.

The American side has not confirmed its involvement in developing this plan. Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been postponing a visit to Kyiv and Moscow for several weeks — reportedly due to a lack of progress in bridging the parties’ positions.

The Times also notes that a Vatican representative arrived in Russia on Monday. This has already given rise to speculation that he may be carrying peace proposals. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday. However, according to the publication’s assessment, Russia has previously rejected such proposals and hopes for a breakthrough in negotiations are slim.

The head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, had previously stated that Ukraine would soon attempt to “liven up” the topic of negotiations with Russia somewhat. Vladimir Putin, for his part, confirmed that certain peace settlement proposals had been received from Ukraine, but said that Russia had rejected them, describing them as “sometimes exotic and unacceptable.”