Zelenskyy says he’s open to creating demilitarized zone in Ukraine’s industrial heartland

AP ^ | December 24, 2025 | SAMYA KULLAB

[MinorityRepublican]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would be willing to withdraw troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end Russia’s war, if Moscow also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces.

The proposal offered another potential compromise on control of the Donbas region, which has been a major sticking point in peace negotiations.

Zelenskyy said the U.S. proposed the creation of a “free economic zone,” which he said should be demilitarized. But it was unclear what that idea would mean for governance or development of the region.

A similar arrangement could be possible for the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian control, Zelenskyy said. He said any peace plan would need to be put to a referendum.

Zelenskyy spoke to reporters Tuesday to describe an overarching 20-point plan that negotiators from Ukraine and the U.S. hammered out in Florida in recent days, though he said many details are still being discussed.

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TOPICS: Ukraine
KEYWORDS:

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Bureaucrats always name things the opposite of what they are.

“Demilitarized zones” are anything but demilitarized on either side of the “demilitarized” zone.

[VanShuyten]

“ Bureaucrats always name things the opposite of what they are.”

Yes. In this case, “demilitarized zone” equals “rump state”.

[McGruff]

...if Moscow also pulls back

Losers don't get to make demands.

[LastDayz]

In your dreams Z-thug.