Ukraine and US Agree Updated 20-Point Peace Plan Amid Moscow Bombings
Ukraine and the United States have published an updated 20-point peace plan following a deadly bombing in Moscow, which killed two police officers and another individual on Wednesday, 24 December 2025. This attack marks the second fatal bombing in Moscow within three days, the first being a car bomb on Monday that killed Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov. The latest explosion occurred in the same area as the previous attack. Ukraine has not confirmed responsibility for the bombings, although it has previously claimed similar high-profile assassinations since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The updated peace plan includes security guarantees for Ukraine akin to Article 5 protections, EU membership prospects, and maintaining Ukraine's armed forces at approximately 800,000 personnel. It envisions the eastern territories seized by Russia potentially becoming free economic zones, although negotiations remain deadlocked on territorial issues, including the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The United States has proposed a Ukraine-Russia partnership in a consortium to manage the Zaporizhzhia facility.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that establishing a demilitarised zone or a free economic zone could help resolve the stalemate in the Donbas region, with the necessity of a referendum to approve sovereignty in such zones. He also expressed a desire for a leaders' level meeting with former US President Donald Trump to discuss sensitive issues.
The timing of the Moscow bombings is viewed by analysts as aiding Ukraine's negotiations with the United States toward a less punitive peace proposal. This includes possible security guarantees like those found in Article 5 and the retention of Ukraine's armed forces. However, Russia continues to oppose security guarantees involving foreign troops, with the Kremlin maintaining its well-known position. US special envoy Steve Witkoff participated in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in December, though no breakthrough was reported. Moscow is expected to respond to the updated peace plan based on information from envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who recently met with US officials in Florida.
