Zelenskyy Responds as Putin Welcomes US Plan

The 28-point peace plan reportedly requires Ukraine to surrender territory and accept limits on its armed forces in exchange for peace.

In an address to the nation on Friday, Zelenskyy said: “This is one of the most difficult moments in our history.

“Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner.”

He insisted Ukraine would work "calmly" with the US and its other partners but said Ukraine's national interest must be considered.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said Zelenskyy is "going to have to approve it" before going on to add: "At some point he is going to have to accept something."

Earlier on Friday, Putin said Moscow had received the plan, which he called “a new version” and “a modernized plan," which he said “could form the basis for a final peace settlement.”

"But this text has not been discussed with us in any substantive way, and I can guess why," alluding to Ukraine's lukewarm reception of the latest proposals, which analysts say are heavily skewed in Moscow's favour.

Putin said: "The US administration has so far been unable to secure the consent of the Ukrainian side. Ukraine is against it.

"Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under illusions and the dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield."

Donald Trump wants an answer from Zelenskyy on the 28-point peace plan by Thursday, but an extension on finalising the terms of the deal is possible.

Europe has been quick to rally to Zelenskyy's side, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying that “Ukraine must determine its future under its sovereignty".

On Friday, the prime minister held a call with Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss the proposal.

"That was an opportunity for us to express, again, our support for Ukraine and the principle that’s very important, which is all matters to do with Ukraine must be determined ultimately by Ukraine,” Starmer said.

“Now we all want a just and lasting peace. That’s what the president of America wants. That’s what we all want.

“And so we need to work from where we are to that end.

“But the principle that Ukraine must determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle.”

He added: “I know that’s what President Trump wants, and he’s been working to that end, but we must reiterate the principle that the matters about Ukraine must be determined by Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy said on Thursday he is ready for "constructive, honest and swift work" on the proposed peace plan.

However, Kyiv has reiterated "red lines" regarding any future peace deal with Russia, with the potential ceding of territory likely to remain a sticking point in negotiations.

The proposal would not only bar Ukraine from joining Nato but would also prevent the alliance's future expansion.

Such a step would be a significant victory for Moscow, which views Nato as a threat.

Under the draft, Moscow would hold all the eastern Donbas region, even though approximately 14% still remains in Ukrainian hands.

Ukraine's military, currently at roughly 880,000 troops, would be reduced to 600,000.

The proposal opens the door to lifting sanctions on Russia and returning it to what was formerly known as the Group of Eight (G8), which includes many of the world’s biggest economies, having been suspended from the annual gathering in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea.

A side agreement aims to satisfy Ukrainian security concerns by saying a future “significant, deliberate and sustained armed attack” by Russia would be viewed as “threatening the peace and security of the transatlantic community.”

The agreement, which was detailed by a senior US official, does not bind the US or EU allies to intervene on Ukraine's behalf, although it says they would “determine the measures necessary to restore security”.

Details of the peace proposal suggest Russia would commit to making no future attacks, something the White House views as a concession.

In addition, $100 billion (£76.4 billion) in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine.The US team began drawing up the plan soon after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to a senior administration official.

The official added that Umerov agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelenskyy.

Handing over territory to Russia would be deeply unpopular in Ukraine.

It would also be illegal under Ukraine’s constitution. Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out such a possibility.

Russia would also be allowed to keep half of the power generated by Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, which it captured from Ukraine early during the war.

The draft plan calls for a “Peace Council” that Trump will oversee – taking inspiration from the president's proposed peace plan to bring to an end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.If either Ukraine or Russia were to violate the truce once enacted, it would face sanctions.

As reports about the draft emerged, blindsided European diplomats insisted they and Ukraine must be consulted, following previous concerns that Trump's administration would sideline them and Zelenskyy.

Trump’s at-times conciliatory approach to Putin has fuelled those concerns, but he adopted a tougher line last month when he announced heavy sanctions on Russia’s vital oil sector that came into force on Friday.

Ukraine’s deputy UN Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn told the UN Security Council that Kyiv has officially received Trump’s draft peace plan and is ready “to work constructively,” but she stressed Ukraine’s “red lines”.

“There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian,” she said. “Our land is not for sale.”

“Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defence or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join,” Hayovyshyn added.

It was not clear whether European foreign ministers had seen the peace plan, which was first reported by Axios.Although they appeared caught by surprise, some elements of the plan were not new. Trump said last month that the Donbas region should be “cut up,” leaving most of it in Russian hands.

The Trump administration's previous diplomatic efforts this year to stop the fighting have so far come to nothing.

A summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska did not result in a breakthrough over the summer, and plans for them to meet again in Budapest, Hungary, did not come to fruition.Trump frequently complained that the negotiations involving Ukraine were taking longer than other conflicts where he helped mediate.“I thought that was going to be my easy one because I have a good relationship with President Putin,” he said this week. “But I’m a little disappointed in President Putin right now."