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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned that Kyiv risks forfeiting U.S. support amid concerns over a White House plan to resolve the conflict with Russia.
In a national address delivered Friday, Zelensky stated that Ukraine “might face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner,” adding, “today is one of the most difficult moments in our history.”
The widely circulated U.S. peace proposal includes provisions that Kyiv has previously rejected, such as ceding control of eastern territories, significantly reducing the size of its armed forces, and pledging not to join NATO.
These provisions are perceived as heavily favoring Russia, with President Vladimir Putin suggesting the plan could serve as a “basis” for a peace settlement.
During a meeting with his security cabinet on Friday, Putin acknowledged receiving the plan, though he noted it had not been discussed in detail with the Kremlin. He indicated Russia’s willingness to “show flexibility” but affirmed the nation’s readiness to continue fighting.
Later that day, U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that Zelensky would “have to like” the plan, implying that otherwise, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia would persist.
Ukraine is critically dependent on the supply of advanced U.S.-manufactured weaponry, including air defense systems crucial for repelling Russian air assaults, as well as intelligence provided by Washington.
Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In a 10-minute address from in front of the presidential office in Kyiv, Zelensky cautioned that Ukraine would face “a lot of pressure… to weaken us, to make divide us,” adding that “the enemy is not sleeping.”
Urging Ukrainians to maintain unity, he emphasized that the country’s “national interest must be taken into account.”
“We’re not making loud statements,” he continued, “we’ll be calmly working with America and all the partners… offering alternatives” to the proposed peace plan.
Zelensky also conveyed having received assurances of continued support during a phone call with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Following these discussions, Starmer affirmed that “the principle that Ukraine must determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle.”
Separately, Zelensky disclosed having spoken “for almost an hour” with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, adding that Ukraine “always respected” President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war.
In Washington, Trump warned that Ukraine would lose more territory to Russia “in a short amount of time.”
He deemed it “appropriate” to provide Ukraine until 27 November – Thanksgiving in the U.S. – to consent to the peace agreement, but indicated that deadlines could be extended if progress was “going well.”
Speaking at the White House later on Friday, the U.S. president conveyed that “we think we have a way of getting peace,” and added that Zelensky “is going to have to approve it.”
Washington has been urging Kyiv to swiftly accept the plan, dispatching senior Pentagon officials to the Ukrainian capital earlier this week.
On Thursday, President Putin conveyed a resolute stance to continue the war despite reports of significant Russian combat casualties.
“We have our tasks, our goals,” the Kremlin leader, dressed in military attire, stated to his army commanders. “The chief one is the unconditional achievement of the aims of the special military operation [full-scale war].”
The 28-point U.S. peace plan has emerged as Russia claims minor territorial advancements in south-eastern Ukraine, while Zelensky faces a domestic crisis implicating top officials in a $100m (£76m) corruption scandal.
The White House has denied claims that Ukraine was excluded from the drafting of the proposal after meetings between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev.
An anonymous U.S. official disclosed to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that the plan was formulated “immediately” following discussions with Ukraine’s top security official Rustem Umerov, who reportedly agreed to the majority of its terms.
Umerov is said to have implemented several modifications before presenting the plan to Zelensky.
The leaked draft proposes the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the portion of the eastern Donetsk region currently under their control, and de facto Russian control of Donetsk, along with the neighboring Luhansk region and the southern Crimea peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.
The plan also involves freezing the borders of Ukraine’s southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions along current battle lines. Both regions are partially occupied by Russia.
The U.S. plan further restricts Ukraine’s military to 600,000 personnel, with European fighter jets stationed in neighboring Poland.
Kyiv would receive “reliable security guarantees,” according to the plan, although details have not been specified. The document indicates that “it is expected” that Russia will refrain from invading its neighbors and that NATO will not expand further.
The draft also suggests the “reintegration of Russia into the global economy” through the lifting of sanctions and the invitation for Russia to rejoin the G7 group of the world’s most influential countries, thereby reinstating it as the G8.
Ukrainians both under and free of Russian occupation struck a defiant tone in reaction to news of the US proposal.
In Kyiv, the widow of a Ukrainian soldier told the BBC: “This is not a peace plan, it is a plan to continue the war.”
Another person speaking from one of the occupied territories in Ukraine told the BBC: “I’m trying to keep my sanity here in the conditions of constant propaganda that Ukraine has forgotten us. I hope they will not sign this.”
Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, and its troops have been making incremental advances along the extensive front line, despite reported heavy losses.
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