"The United States, after numerous negotiations with the Russian side, believes that a full ceasefire can only be achieved by signing a framework agreement. In my opinion, it is no secret that the Russians will not agree to a ceasefire without any agreement," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference.

"There was no specific framework for ultimatums, no dates. It's a fact that everyone wants to end this as quickly as possible. The United States wants to end this as quickly as possible – we hear that from them. I think they really wanted, or maybe they want, to have a full understanding of where we are in this agreement by Christmas. The result is important to us. Of course, we want it sooner, but the result is what counts," he said, as quoted by Ukrayinska Pravda.

Zelensky stated that the issue of territorial solutions should be discussed by the entire Ukrainian nation through a referendum. He emphasized that the final decision in each case must be fair and based on the"interests of the population."

The president said that the American side had proposed the creation of a "free economy," i.e., a demilitarized zone in part of the Donetsk region. According to this, Ukrainian troops should withdraw from these areas, and Russian troops would not be allowed to approach them.

According to Zelensky, signing these documents is possible, but it is necessary to consider who would manage this zone, who would monitor it, and whether Russia would withdraw its troops to the same distance as Ukraine or whether it would be treated differently under this arrangement. Zelensky added that the proposed agreement is not in Ukraine's interests, therefore its acceptance depends on the decisions made regarding the Ukrainian army.

Despite this, the Ukrainian leader admitted that there is a need to continue the conversation and seek answers to all questions"to make everything more appropriate." Zelensky wants the troop withdrawal to be symmetrical and only under a security guarantee from the US.

Zelensky also stated that in the modified peace plan presented to the US, Ukraine would maintain a military strength of 800,000."I believe we have sufficiently refined this provision," he emphasized.

"It was agreed that the teams will actively work to ensure that security guarantees are well understood in the near future," he wrote on Platform X.

Reuters previously reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Kyiv had presented the US with an updated version of the peace plan. In addition to the 20-point plan, the peace framework would include security guarantees and an agreement on Ukraine's reconstruction.

In statements to journalists, he said that the US was considering the idea of creating a"free economic zone" in eastern Ukraine, where Kiev's troops would withdraw, but any territorial concessions would have to be subject to a referendum.

On Platform X, Zelenka confirmed that he discussed security guarantees for Ukraine during a video call with top American officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.