KIEV, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that the United States had proposed creating a "free economic zone" in parts of the eastern Donbas region, which Ukraine would withdraw from under a negotiated peace with Russia.
The Russian side calls this a "demilitarized zone," Zelensky told media in Kiev, adding that the compromise is that the Russian side will not advance into this area.
Although this might break the diplomatic deadlock, serious questions remain about who would manage the territory and how to ensure fair and reciprocal troop withdrawals, Zelensky was quoted by a CNN report as saying.
"If one side withdraws, as is being demanded of the Ukrainians, why doesn't the other warring party withdraw the same distance in the other direction?" Zelensky said, suggesting that Russia should also withdraw from land it currently holds.
He also questioned who would police the "free economic zone." "If some troops have to leave and other troops remain where they are, what exactly will prevent these other troops -- i.e. Russian troops -- from going further?" he said.
Zelensky confirmed that the proposed plan calls for a reciprocal withdrawal of Russian forces from the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. For the southern Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, a freeze along the current front line is planned, he said.
Zelensky also reiterated on Thursday that any territorial solutions to end the conflict must be decided by the Ukrainian people, either through elections or a referendum.
"The Russians want the whole of the Donbas -- but we, of course, do not accept this," he said. "I believe that the Ukrainian people will answer this question. Whether in the form of elections or a referendum, the Ukrainian people must have a say."
Earlier in the day, Zelensky held a video conference with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was also connected.
According to Zelensky, his team held talks with the U.S. side on security guarantees. "Security guarantees are among the most important elements for all further steps," the president said in a statement.
There must be concrete answers about what the partners will do if Russia attacks Ukraine again, he added.
Ukraine had handed the U.S. a revised 20-point peace plan, which Ukrainian, U.S. and European leaders have been working on for several weeks, according to a Ukrainian official close to the peace talks, ABC News reported on Thursday.
The revised plan contains some new ideas regarding territories and control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the report quoted the official as saying.
Meanwhile, Trump, who has been pressuring Zelensky to agree to a U.S. plan, swiftly expressed impatience with both Kiev and its European allies in France, Britain and Germany.
On Wednesday, Trump said that he and European leaders had discussed proposals to end the Ukraine crisis "in pretty strong terms," adding that Zelensky "has to be realistic" about his country's position on the peace plan. ■