Zelenskyy acknowledged that the winter ahead could be “extremely difficult,” Photo credit: lev radin/Shutterstock
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Ukraine is confronting one of the most challenging moments in its history. The president spoke after former US President Donald Trump demanded Kyiv accept a US-backed 28-point “peace plan” within days, a deal which Ukrainian and European officials say amounts to capitulation. Trump confirmed Friday that next Thursday, Thanksgiving in the United States, would be an “acceptable” deadline for signing. Zelenskyy, in a sombre 10-minute address outside his presidential palace, said Ukraine faced an impossible choice: uphold national dignity or risk losing a major partner in a US administration seemingly determined to end the conflict on Moscow’s terms.
The proposal requires Ukraine to cede the eastern Donbas region, shrink its army, relinquish long-range weapons, and forgo NATO membership. Trump suggested on Fox radio that Kyiv could not prevent Russia from seizing the Donbas militarily and indicated an “aggressive timeline” for resolution.
He also reportedly threatened to suspend intelligence sharing and military support if Ukraine failed to comply. Zelenskyy insisted he would never sacrifice Ukraine’s sovereignty or go against the constitution, declaring: “We did not betray Ukraine then, and we will not do so now.”
European Leaders Push Back
Support for Sovereignty
European leaders expressed firm opposition to the plan. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas all spoke with Zelenskyy in a show of solidarity. They stressed that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, maintain existing territorial lines as the starting point for discussions, and safeguard Europe and Ukraine’s long-term interests. Kallas warned that rewarding aggression would set a “very dangerous” global precedent, while Starmer emphasised a “just and lasting peace” rooted in Kyiv’s self-determination.
Following discussions with US Vice President JD Vance, who has repeatedly pressed Ukraine to accept the deal, Zelenskyy offered cautious optimism, stating that negotiators were working on a “dignified and truly effective” path to peace. Both countries appointed their national security advisers to continue refining the text of the draft plan.
Domestic Pressures Mount
Zelenskyy Under Strain
Zelenskyy acknowledged that the winter ahead could be “extremely difficult,” with Russia having already destroyed much of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions without heating and electricity. He also paid tribute to citizens enduring “almost four years of full-scale invasion” while hinting that some compromises may be necessary to end the conflict. “Our people really, really want this war to end. We are, of course, strong, but even the strongest metal can break,” he said.
Insiders reported that Kyiv has improved relations with Washington since February, when Trump and Vance publicly berated Zelenskyy. However, Ukraine risks provoking Trump again if it fails to swiftly consider his Moscow-drafted deal. In response to recent tensions, the US temporarily halted intelligence sharing and direct military aid, though advanced weapons systems continue to be supplied under the UN’s Purl initiative.
Plan Drafted Without Ukraine
Excluded From Negotiations
The 28-point plan was drafted in Miami by Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s envoy, and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special representative, without Ukraine or European input. Zelenskyy pledged to work calmly and constructively with Washington, “offering alternatives” to ensure national interests were upheld. Ukrainian national security adviser Rustem Umerov reportedly modified some elements but stressed Kyiv would never accept terms violating its sovereignty.
The Kremlin has received a copy of the plan. President Vladimir Putin suggested it could “lay the foundation” for a final settlement, though sources indicated it falls short of Russian demands for NATO guarantees and constitutional neutrality. Moscow said EU membership could only be considered if military components were excluded.
Public and Expert Reaction
Criticism Mounts
Reactions in Ukraine have been overwhelmingly negative, with civil society and political commentators condemning the plan as tantamount to surrender. The proposal has also drawn European criticism. Constanze Stelzenmüller of the Brookings Institute described its drafting as “appalling” and “outrageous,” warning it could cement Russia’s dominance in Europe.
The US also deployed senior military officials, led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, to Kyiv for discussions, with expectations they may travel to Moscow to negotiate the plan further. Trump’s actions underscore the unprecedented pressure placed on Ukraine, heightening the stakes for Zelenskyy’s government amid ongoing internal political scrutiny.
Summary
- Trump demands Ukraine accept US-backed 28-point peace plan by Thanksgiving.
- Plan requires ceding Donbas, shrinking the army, and abandoning NATO ambitions.
- Zelenskyy insists Ukraine’s sovereignty and dignity must be upheld.
- European leaders oppose plan, stressing fair and lasting peace for Ukraine.
- Ukraine faces difficult winter with energy infrastructure damaged by Russia.
- Plan drafted without Ukraine; Kremlin sees it as a partial foundation.
- Ukrainian civil society and European experts condemn plan as capitulation.
Implications for Kyiv
The proposal places Zelenskyy under intense domestic and international pressure. Ukraine’s president continues negotiations to secure a plan that preserves sovereignty and long-term security, while balancing relations with Washington and European allies. The coming days are critical, with every decision potentially reshaping the country’s path in an ongoing war where national survival and dignity hang in the balance.
