New Delhi, Dec 27 (NationPress) As President Donald Trump of the United States remains undecided about endorsing Ukraine's 20-point peace proposal until his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, Russia has dismissed it as "radically different" from the agreement it had been negotiating with Washington.

In response to Zelensky's initiative, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov commented that the plan, if it could even be termed a plan, is fundamentally different from the 27-point proposal previously discussed with the US in recent weeks, as reported by RT, a government-controlled international news channel.

The report indicated that an initial 28-point proposal drafted by Washington and leaked to the media in November required Kiev to give up parts of Russia's Donbass still under Ukrainian control, commit to not joining the NATO, and reduce its military size to 600,000, with a halt in the frontline in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. It also mentioned that Moscow had suggested the US plan could serve as a foundation for future negotiations. However, Ukraine's allies in the EU indicated opposition to any significant compromises from Kiev.

Russia has not indicated that it would accept anything less than complete control over the contested regions, highlighting the persistent divide between the two parties.

The RT report followed Trump's conversation with POLITICO, where he positioned himself as the crucial mediator for any peace arrangement between Ukraine and Russia as Zelensky was set to present an updated plan during the meeting in Florida. This plan emphasizes a demilitarized zone and US security assurances, but Russia has shown no public inclination to accept anything less than complete control over disputed territories.

According to the RT report, quoting Trump’s interview, the US President expressed skepticism regarding Zelensky’s peace initiative, stating, “We’ll see what he’s got.” Trump emphasized, “He (Zelensky) doesn’t have anything until I approve it.” The report noted that Zelensky had proposed a 20-point peace outline, which includes a frontline freeze in Russia's Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions, the withdrawal of Moscow from certain Ukrainian areas, and a Ukrainian military force of 800,000 supported by NATO allies.

The plan also seeks security guarantees akin to “Article 5” from the US, NATO, and European nations for Kiev. This Article states that an armed attack against one of its members is regarded as an attack against all.

With Trump acting as a gatekeeper, the United States could leverage its diplomatic and security clout to advocate for a framework that ensures Ukrainian sovereignty while providing enforceable guarantees. Nonetheless, Trump acknowledged the difficulties facing Russia's economy.

“Their economy is in tough shape, very tough shape,” he stated in the interview. As per POLITICO, Trump remains optimistic about a fruitful discussion on Sunday.

“I think it’s going to go good with him. I think it’s going to go good with (Vladimir) Putin,” Trump remarked, anticipating a conversation with the Russian leader “soon, as much as I want.”

These remarks followed Zelensky's discussions with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, which Zelensky described as a “good conversation.”