Negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine are approaching a critical juncture, but unresolved issues related to territory and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain significant obstacles. According to President Donald Trump, these sticking points are "one or two very thorny, very tough issues."

The Kremlin concurred with Trump's assessment that negotiations are "at a final stage," while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with European leaders in France on January 6 to discuss the path forward. However, any of the remaining disagreements could potentially derail the entire peace process.

One of the most contentious issues is the fate of Ukraine's Donbas region, its industrial heartland, which Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to control entirely. While Russian forces currently occupy most of the Luhansk region, their control extends to just over 75% of the Donetsk region. Putin's demand includes the remaining "fortress belt" cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Zelensky has offered a compromise, but Putin has so far refused to concede any ground on this maximalist demand.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest, is another major point of contention. The plant is currently occupied by Russian forces, raising concerns about its safety and security. The details of how the plant would be managed under a peace agreement, and who would ultimately control it, remain unresolved.

The current negotiations are based on a 20-point plan proposed by Washington. The US, Russia, and Ukraine all agree that progress has been made, but the remaining issues are proving difficult to resolve. Zelensky has expressed skepticism about trusting Russia's commitment to peace, a sentiment that contrasts with Trump's more optimistic view.

The outcome of Zelensky's meeting with European leaders in France will be crucial in determining the next steps in the peace process. The international community is closely watching these developments, as the resolution of the conflict has significant implications for regional and global stability.