Zelensky warns Ukraine could lose US backing over White House peace plan
Zelensky cautions Kyiv may face a tough choice as a leaked U.S. peace proposal surfaces, while Putin signals flexibility but vows to continue the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Friday that Washington's forthcoming peace proposal could threaten crucial U.S. support for Kyiv.
In a national address, Zelensky said Ukraine could face "a very difficult choice"—either preserving dignity or risking the loss of a key ally—calling the moment among the toughest in its history.
The widely leaked U.S. plan reportedly contains concessions Kyiv has previously rejected, including ceding parts of the east, shrinking Ukraine's armed forces, and pledging not to pursue NATO membership.
Those provisions are seen as leaning toward Moscow, and President Vladimir Putin said the plan could form a "basis" for a peace settlement, while also warning Moscow would continue to fight if needed.
At a meeting with his security cabinet, Putin said Russia had received the plan, though it had not been discussed in detail, and that Moscow would show flexibility while staying prepared to fight on.
Later, U.S. President Donald Trump said Zelensky would "have to like" the plan, adding that without it Ukraine and Russia would keep fighting.
Ukraine remains heavily reliant on U.S.-provided weapons, including air defense systems and intelligence, to counter Russian strikes and maintain security.
Russia began a full-scale invasion in 2022, and Zelensky, in a ten-minute address from Kyiv’s presidential offices, urged unity and said Ukraine would safeguard its national interests amid pressure to weaken or divide the country.
He stressed that Kyiv would work calmly with the United States and other partners, offering alternative paths to the plan. Zelensky also noted reassurances from leaders in the United Kingdom, France and Germany about Ukraine's sovereignty in choosing its future.
He said he had spoke for nearly an hour with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, adding that Ukraine has always respected former President Trump’s efforts to end the war.
In Washington, Trump warned that Ukraine risked losing more territory to Russia unless it agrees to the plan, suggesting a November 27 deadline—Thanksgiving in the United States—with potential extensions if progress continues. The White House later said Washington believes there is a path to peace, but Zelensky would need to approve it.
The White House has argued that Kyiv was involved in drafting the proposal, following discussions with Ukraine’s top security official, Rustem Umerov, who reportedly proposed several modifications.
Details in the leaked draft include Ukrainian withdrawal from parts of the eastern Donetsk region, de facto Russian control of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the Crimea peninsula annexed in 2014. It also calls for freezing the borders of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia at current lines, a cap on Ukrainian forces, and the temporary hosting of European fighter jets in Poland. It envisions security guarantees for Ukraine and, controversially, a path for Russia to rejoin the global economy and the G7, effectively restoring the G8.
Public reaction in Ukraine was mixed. A Kyiv-based widow of a serviceman told INLIBER that the plan, as described, would not be a peace plan but a way to keep fighting. In occupied areas, residents warned against signing terms they view as compromising their future amid pervasive propaganda.
Russia currently controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, and front lines have seen slow progress amid high casualties.
On Thursday, President Putin spoke to his army commanders, reiterating a focus on achieving Moscow's goals in what he called the special military operation.
As discussions continue, observers urge caution and emphasize that a durable peace remains uncertain.
Key insight: The proposed U.S. peace plan tests Kyiv's backing by tying concessions to security guarantees, while Moscow signals willingness to negotiate but remains committed to the war. Source: BBC News
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