President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed concerns that Ukraine might lose its dignity and freedom due to a U. S. peace plan that supports key demands from Russia. Former President Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine should accept the plan within a week, emphasizing that time is running out with winter approaching and insisting that Zelenskiy must come to terms with something he previously rejected. The U. S. proposal outlines 28 points, including Ukraine ceding territory, limiting its military, and giving up aspirations to join NATO, alongside some unpopular terms for Russia that require a pullback of Russian forces.
U. S. Vice President JD Vance remarked that any peace plan should respect Ukraine’s sovereignty but noted that it is unrealistic to think Ukraine can win simply by receiving more aid or imposing stricter sanctions on Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the U. S. plan could serve as a foundation for resolving the ongoing conflict but claimed that Ukraine and its European allies fail to grasp the reality of Russia’s strategic gains.
Zelenskiy has previously dismissed the terms of the plan as surrender and called for national unity, stressing that he will fight to maintain the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians. He warned of a tough decision ahead for Ukraine, either risking its dignity or losing a vital ally. A Russian envoy argued that the U. S. plan aims to protect Ukraine from further casualties and territorial loss. Some reports indicate that Washington threatened to cut intelligence and arms support to Ukraine if the proposal is rejected, though this was denied by U. S. officials.
Zelenskiy publicly appreciated the U. S. efforts to end the war but insisted that any plan must provide genuine and dignified peace for Ukraine. Analysts believe that accepting a poor deal could lead to significant instability in Ukraine after years of conflict. The matter is expected to be a key topic at the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, where European leaders will gather despite Trump’s absence. Ukraine is exploring a counter-proposal in collaboration with Britain, France, and Germany, as European leaders have shown strong backing for Kyiv.
The EU’s foreign policy chief asserted that Russia has no legal claim to any concessions from Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of how the war ends. U. S. officials claimed the peace plan was developed after consultations with Rustem Umerov, a close ally to Zelenskiy; however, Umerov disputed having agreed to its terms, stating he only facilitated dialogue. The U. S. plan would obligate Ukraine to withdraw from areas it currently controls in the east while allowing Russia to keep smaller territories. Additionally, Ukraine would be barred from NATO, its military would be limited, and sanctions against Russia would be eased, with Moscow potentially regaining its G8 membership. A crucial demand from Ukraine for strong security guarantees akin to NATO’s mutual defense clause was superficially addressed in the plan.
With information from Reuters