Zelenskyy proposes ceasefire and Donbas economic zone to end war

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined a framework for ending the war with Russia, identifying a window of opportunity for US mediation that extends from the upcoming G20 summit in December through the summer of 2027. The timeline is influenced by the upcoming 2028 US presidential election cycle.

Developed in collaboration with American and European officials, the proposals include a formal ceasefire and the establishment of a free economic zone in the eastern Donbas region. Under this US-proposed model, the administration of the Donbas would be managed by a third party.

The Kremlin has already challenged the feasibility of the economic zone proposal, asserting that the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces are officially part of Russia and cannot be governed by a third party. Previous negotiations facilitated by US negotiators had collapsed earlier this year following Ukraine's rejection of Russian territorial demands.