Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has cautioned that his country risks losing both its dignity and freedom or Washington’s support if it accepts a US peace proposal that aligns with key Russian demands.
The plan, unveiled by Washington, sets a one-week deadline for Kyiv’s acceptance, according to US President Donald Trump, who told Fox News Radio that Thursday was an appropriate cutoff. The 28-point proposal calls on Ukraine to cede territory, restrict its military, and abandon ambitions to join NATO.
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the plan, saying it could serve as the basis for ending the nearly four-year conflict, though he reiterated Moscow’s refusal to compromise on its territorial and security demands.
Zelenskiy’s Defiant Address
In a rare outdoor speech outside his Kyiv office, Zelenskiy appealed for national unity and vowed never to betray Ukraine.
“Now is one of the most difficult moments of our history… Ukraine can face a very difficult choice – either losing dignity or risk losing a major partner,” he said. He pledged to fight “24/7” to safeguard the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians.
Sources told Reuters that Washington has threatened to halt intelligence sharing and weapons supplies if Kyiv rejects the deal, though US officials later disputed that characterization.
International Reactions
Zelenskiy held calls with leaders of Britain, Germany, France, and later US Vice President JD Vance, agreeing to explore “a workable path to peace.” He publicly avoided outright rejection of the US plan, stressing:
“We value the efforts of the United States, President Trump, and his team aimed at ending this war. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace.”
European leaders, however, voiced strong opposition. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned:
“We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. This is a very dangerous moment for all.”
Analysts echoed concerns. Tim Ash of Chatham House said:
“Russia gets everything it wants and Ukraine gets not very much. If Zelenskiy accepts this, I anticipate huge political, social and economic instability in Ukraine.”
Terms of the US Proposal
The plan would force Ukraine to withdraw from territories Russia claims to have annexed, while Moscow would relinquish smaller areas elsewhere. Ukraine would be permanently barred from NATO membership, its armed forces capped at 600,000, and NATO prohibited from stationing troops in the country.
In return, sanctions against Russia would be gradually lifted, Moscow reinstated into the G8, and frozen Russian assets pooled into an investment fund partly benefiting Washington. Ukraine’s demand for enforceable security guarantees is addressed only vaguely in the document.
Trump’s Position
Trump has expressed impatience with Moscow while acknowledging some of Russia’s justifications for its 2022 invasion. He recently cancelled a summit with Putin and imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, set to take full effect Friday.
“Their whole economy is based on oil,” Trump said, adding that sanctions would remain until the peace plan is implemented.
Ukraine now faces a pivotal choice, accepting a US-backed plan that critics say heavily favours Russia, or rejecting it and risking the loss of American military and intelligence support. Zelenskiy insists dignity and freedom must remain non-negotiable, while European allies prepare a counter-proposal to safeguard Kyiv’s interests.