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

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

One of the primary sticking points is Russia's demand for control over the entirety of Ukraine's Donbas region, its industrial heartland. While Russian forces currently occupy most of the Luhansk region, their control extends to only about 75% of the Donetsk region. President Vladimir Putin is insisting on acquiring the remaining portion, including the key cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Zelensky has offered a compromise, the details of which have not been publicly disclosed.

The fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, also presents a major challenge. The plant is currently under Russian occupation, raising concerns about its safety and security. The 20-point plan being discussed in Washington addresses both the territorial dispute and the nuclear plant situation.

The ongoing conflict began in 2014, escalating into a full-scale war following Russia's invasion in February 2022. The war has resulted in significant casualties and displacement, and has had a profound impact on the global economy.