Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on December 11 that a draft peace agreement includes provisions stipulating the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at approximately 800,000 personnel, matching the current actual strength of the Ukrainian military.

Speaking to journalists in Kyiv, Zelenskyy stated that the figure was agreed upon with Ukraine’s military leadership and represents the real size of today’s army.

Evolution of troop limit proposals

The announcement marks a significant shift from earlier proposals. Zelenskyy reminded reporters that in 2022, some peace proposals suggested limiting Ukraine’s armed forces to just 40,000-50,000 troops.

“I believe that, as of today, we have sufficiently refined this provision,” Zelenskyy said.

The current 800,000 figure also represents an increase from a US-backed peace plan presented in November 2025, which initially proposed capping Ukraine’s military at 600,000 personnel.

The 28-point plan and Geneva negotiations

A 28-point draft peace proposal was presented to Ukrainian officials in November 2025. The plan, drafted by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev, included provisions that Ukrainian officials found unacceptable.

Ukrainian and US delegations met in Geneva, Switzerland on November 23 to negotiate changes to the proposal. Following those talks, Presidential Office adviser Oleksandr Bevz stated that some points were removed or revised.

The revised plan was reduced from 28 points to 19 points, with strict limits on the size of Ukraine’s army excluded from the updated version.

Historical context of military size negotiations

Russia has consistently sought to limit Ukraine’s military capacity throughout peace negotiations since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

In 2022, Russia demanded limiting Ukraine’s Armed Forces to 85,000 personnel, 342 tanks, 519 artillery systems, and restricting Ukrainian missile range to 40 kilometers. Ukraine’s counter-proposal at that time sought to maintain 250,000 troops, 800 tanks, and 1,900 artillery systems.

During negotiations in Istanbul in June 2025, Russia again demanded reductions in Ukraine’s army size and the disbandment of Ukrainian “nationalist formations” within the Armed Forces and the National Guard.

Current military context

Ukraine’s armed forces have been engaged in defending against Russian invasion for nearly three years. The country has mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops and received substantial military aid from Western allies.

The question of Ukraine’s military size remains sensitive, as Kyiv maintains that a robust military is essential for deterring future Russian aggression, regardless of any peace agreement reached.

Ukrainian officials have previously stated that accepting curbs on the size of its armed forces or on its military’s overall readiness would be a red line in negotiations.