Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine faces one of the most difficult moments in its history, after Donald Trump demanded Kyiv accept within days a US-backed peace plan that would force it to cede territory to Russia and make other painful concessions. Trump confirmed on Friday that next Thursday, Thanksgiving in the US, would be an acceptable deadline for Zelenskyy to sign the deal, which European and Ukrainian officials have described as a capitulation.
In a sombre 10-minute speech outside his presidential palace, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had an impossible choice: keep its national dignity or risk losing a major partner in the form of a US administration apparently determined to end the conflict on Moscow's brutal terms. He said the pressure on Ukraine was among the heaviest it had faced, with options including agreeing to Trump's 28-point proposal or enduring an extremely difficult winter, as Russia has already destroyed much of the country's energy infrastructure, leaving millions without heating and electricity.
Agreeing to the US-Russian plan could leave Ukraine without freedom, dignity, and justice, Zelenskyy said, adding that he would never sacrifice Ukraine's interests or go against its constitution. Speaking on Fox radio, Trump said he thought Thursday was an appropriate time for Zelenskyy to sign, and he believed Ukraine could not prevent Russia from taking the Donbas territories by force. The US president is pursuing an aggressive timeline to end the conflict and intends to heap unprecedented pressure on Kyiv, with reports suggesting he may cut vital intelligence sharing and weapons supplies if Ukraine fails to agree.
A US official said it was strongly implied to the Ukrainians that the United States expects them to agree to a peace deal, and any changes would be decided by the president. European leaders pushed back on the proposal, which Ukrainian politicians called absurd. Trump later repeated that he had expected to resolve the war much sooner given his good relationship with Vladimir Putin, adding that Zelenskyy would have to like the deal or keep fighting, but at some point he would have to accept something.
The 28-point plan envisages Ukraine giving up the eastern Donbas region, including areas it currently controls, shrinking its army, ruling out European peacekeepers, and requiring Kyiv to relinquish long-range weapons and not join Nato. On Friday, Zelenskyy spoke by telephone with US Vice-President JD Vance, who has previously pressured Ukraine to make a deal. Following the call, Zelenskyy said they had covered many details of the American proposals and were working to make the path forward dignified and effective for lasting peace. Both countries appointed national security advisers to continue negotiations.
Western allies, including France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz, and Britain's Keir Starmer, spoke to Zelenskyy in a show of solidarity, reaffirming support for Kyiv and stressing that any agreement must be genuinely fair and respect Ukraine's red lines. They said the existing line of contact should be the starting point for territorial discussions and that the text must take into account the long-term interests of Europe and Ukraine. Starmer urged a just and lasting peace, echoing Trump's desire for an end to the conflict.
