Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has presented a detailed new peace framework aimed at ending the war with Russia, as violence reverberated back to the Russian capital with a fatal explosion on Christmas Eve.
Zelensky's 20-Point Proposal for Peace
President Volodymyr Zelensky has outlined an updated 20-point peace plan developed in recent talks with American envoys. He described the proposal, agreed upon during negotiations in Florida, as "the main framework for ending the war." A central element involves the potential creation of demilitarised or free economic zones in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region.
Under the plan, Ukrainian troops would withdraw from these areas, which would then be placed under Ukrainian civil administration and policing, but monitored by international forces. In return, Kyiv seeks NATO-style security guarantees from the US, NATO, and European allies to deter future aggression. Mr Zelensky indicated that a similar arrangement could be explored for the area surrounding the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
Christmas Violence in Moscow
Meanwhile, in southern Moscow, at least three people were killed in an explosion at the same site where a Russian general was assassinated earlier in the week. Russian authorities confirmed that two of the deceased were police officers, with the third believed to be a civilian bystander.
An official from Ukraine's military intelligence agency, the GUR, told the Associated Press that the attack was part of an agency operation, alleging the officers had participated in the war in Ukraine. The blast occurred as Russian air defences reported downing 16 Ukrainian drones targeting the capital region over a 17-hour period on Wednesday, causing temporary flight disruptions at two major airports.
Military Shifts and Environmental Fallout
On the battlefield, Ukraine's military announced a tactical withdrawal from the eastern town of Siversk near Bakhmut, citing overwhelming Russian numerical advantage and constant pressure. The town, with a pre-war population of 10,000, was a component of Ukraine's defensive "fortress belt" in the Donbas.
Fighting continues to rage around the strategic hub of Pokrovsk, while Ukraine also grapples with the environmental consequences of war. In Odesa, regional governor Oleh Kiper blamed Russian strikes for damaging sunflower oil storage tanks, causing a spill that has killed dozens of birds, including great crested and horned grebes.
As diplomatic efforts continue, President Zelensky awaits a formal response from the Kremlin to his latest proposals, with the path to peace remaining fraught amid ongoing military and hybrid conflicts, including a claimed cyberattack by pro-Russian hackers on France's postal service.
