Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned he would not “betray” his nation as he rejected a US proposal to end the war on terms that would benefit Moscow, admitting he risked losing Washington as an ally.
Ukraine is facing one of the most testing periods in its history, Mr Zelensky said in a national address posted on social media, adding that he would offer “alternatives” to US President Donald Trump’s 28-point plan, reports RTE.
Kyiv and its European partners were shocked by the proposal, which would effectively force Ukraine to concede by surrendering territory, reducing the size of its armed forces, pledging never to join NATO and holding rapid elections.
Meanwhile, Russia would not only secure new territory but also be restored to the global economic system and return to the G8, under the draft plan, reports RTE.
In Moscow, the Kremlin was confident, warning Mr Zelensky that he must negotiate or risk losing even more territory.
Mr Zelensky said: “I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives”,
Recalling how he led Kyiv’s response to the Russian invasion in February 2022, he said: “We did not betray Ukraine then, we will not do so now.”, reports RTE.
Mr Trump said in a radio interview that he believes next Thursday is an appropriate deadline for Ukraine to accept the proposal.
“I’ve had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines. But Thursday is, we think is, an appropriate time,” Mr Trump told Fox News Radio’s The Brian Kilmeade Show today, reports RTE.
Mr Zelensky spoke with US Vice President JD Vance earlier today, a source in the Ukrainian president’s office said, without providing further details.
And the Ukrainian leader also plans to speak directly with Mr Trump in the “coming days,” his office said yesterday, reports RTE.
He additionally held an urgent call with the German, French and British leaders as Europe — excluded from the process — scrambled to form a response.
The US proposal includes recognising Moscow-annexed Crimea and occupied areas of eastern Ukraine as “de-facto” Russian, also requiring Kyiv to withdraw from parts of Donetsk it still controls, reports RTE.
The front line in the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions would be frozen.
Kyiv would also be required to limit the size of its military to 600,000 troops, renounce NATO membership forever, and agree that no NATO forces be stationed on its territory, reports RTE.
In return, Ukraine would receive unspecified “reliable security guarantees” and access to a reconstruction fund partly sourced from frozen Russian assets.
Mr Zelensky has made no secret of how severely Ukraine has been cornered by the proposals, reports RTE.
“Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history,” Mr Zelensky said in the address to the nation,
“The pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner,” he said, warning that a total rupture with Washington is possible,
Mr Trump’s administration dismissed claims that the plan was prepared with Moscow, while Russia said it had not officially received the draft, reports RTE.
The White House insisted it was a “good plan” for both Ukraine and Russia.
Mr Zelensky has also worked to strengthen the backing of his key European allies, reports RTE.
Following a call, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed their “unwavering and full support for Ukraine on the path to a lasting and just peace.”
The United States bypassed Europe in drafting the plan, leaving many in the EU uneasy about the prospect of the war ending according to Moscow’s preferences, reports RTE.
Germany’s Merz stressed that Ukraine’s military “must remain capable of defending itself.”
Berlin argued that the current front line “remains the starting point for any understanding,” contrasting sharply with the US plan, which would immediately transfer large areas to Russian control, reports RTE.
The Kremlin appeared to sense victory — whether through negotiations or on the battlefield.
Its spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that Mr Zelensky should “negotiate now” or risk losing additional territory, reports RTE.
“The space for the freedom of decision-making is shrinking for him as territories are lost,” Mr Peskov said,
Moscow has been calling for Mr Zelensky’s removal since the start of the invasion. The US plan urges Ukraine to hold elections within 100 days, reports RTE.
No official deadline has been set for Ukraine’s response, but Mr Zelensky has said he will speak with Mr Trump in the coming days.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
