Progress in peace? A look at the “free economic zone”
By Easton Martin | December 11, 2025
Ukraine’s latest peace efforts are a constructive turn in negotiations, with officials in Kyiv submitting an updated peace plan to the United States and keeping diplomatic channels active. The revised framework focuses on territorial questions, security guarantees, and stabilizing contested regions, signaling that both sides are still committed to exploring a negotiated end to the conflict.
One of the most noteworthy developments is discussion around a potential free economic zone in parts of the Donbas region. The concept would involve Ukrainian forces stepping back from select areas while preventing any further Russian military movement into those zones.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated that any territorial adjustments must be approved by the Ukrainian public. The broader plan also engages issues such as postwar reconstruction, long term security assurances, and the future of critical infrastructure including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Although no final agreement is in sight, the willingness to refine proposals and consider new ideas is a meaningful step forward.
