On October 24, 2026, it was reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected a peace plan that involved recognizing Crimea as Russian in exchange for the withdrawal of Russian Federation troops from most of the occupied territories. This information was disclosed by Financial Times.
Details of the Peace Plan
According to reports, in 2023, Vladimir Putin was allegedly willing to withdraw troops to the positions that existed at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. However, he demanded that Ukraine abandon its NATO membership aspirations and recognize Crimea as Russian. This plan was developed by Ukrainian producer Alexander Rodnyansky together with Putin's associate Matthias Warnig.
Demands and Rejection
The proposal presented to the Ukrainian side included several key points:
- Russia withdraws troops from most occupied territories but retains control over Crimea and part of Donbas.
- Ukraine recognizes Russian control over Crimea and provides a land corridor to the peninsula in exchange for security guarantees.
However, Zelensky and his advisor Andriy Yermak did not agree to these territorial concessions, hoping to achieve better results on the battlefield.
Conflict Prospects
The rejection of the peace plan indicates that the Ukrainian leadership is determined to continue the fight for the restoration of territorial integrity. This decision may affect the further development of the conflict and diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the situation in the region.