The leader rejected the concessions outlined in the U.S. 28-point peace plan, warning that accepting the conditions would imply sacrificing national sovereignty.
KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has characterized the new U.S. peace proposal as a stark and dangerous dilemma for his country. In his most direct comments since receiving the draft agreement from the Trump administration, the leader warned that Kyiv is being forced to choose between national honor and vital military support.
“Ukraine faces a crucial decision: lose dignity or risk losing a key partner,” Zelensky stated on Friday, referring to the ultimatum delivered by Washington to accept a deal that would freeze the conflict on Russian terms.
The comments come as the White House confirmed that President Donald Trump has set a deadline of next Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, for Kyiv to respond to the “28-point plan.” The proposal reportedly demands that Ukraine cede the Donbas region, recognize Crimea as Russian territory de facto, and cap its armed forces at 600,000 personnel.
For Zelensky, these conditions amount to a surrender of sovereignty. While acknowledging the existential risk of alienating the United States—Ukraine’s most important supplier of weaponry—he insisted that any peace must be “dignified.”
“There can be no decisions outside the framework of our sovereignty, the security of our people, or our red lines,” echoed Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, reinforcing the government’s rejection of the territorial concessions.
The diplomatic pressure is compounded by the deteriorating situation on the ground. Russian forces have made significant gains in the east, particularly near the strategic hub of Pokrovsk, and continue to launch massive air raids on civilian infrastructure.
The Kremlin has seized on the U.S. initiative to increase its leverage. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned Zelensky today that his “room for maneuver is shrinking” and that he should negotiate immediately before Ukraine loses even more territory.
Zelensky is now engaged in a frantic diplomatic push to rally European allies, hoping to present a counter-proposal that satisfies Trump’s desire for a quick resolution without crossing Kyiv’s red lines.
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