Ukraine faces a choice on U.S. peace plan: ‘Losing its dignity’ or American support, Zelenskyy says

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin cautiously welcomed the US plan to end Moscow’s nearly four-year-old war in Ukraine, which includes many of the Kremlin’s long-standing demands while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine. Putin said it “could form the basis for a final peace settlement,” while accusing Ukraine of opposing the plan and being unrealistic.

The plan calls for Ukraine to hand over territory to Russia – something Kiev has repeatedly ruled out – while reducing the size of its army and blocking its desired path to NATO membership.

Zelensky, in his speech hours earlier, did not reject the plan outright, but insisted on fair treatment while vowing to “work quietly” with Washington and other partners in what he described as “one of the most difficult moments in our history.” He said he spoke for about an hour on Friday with US Vice President J.D. Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll about the peace proposal.

“At the moment, pressure on Ukraine is one of the most difficult,” Zelensky said in his recorded speech. He added: “Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice: either lose its dignity or risk losing a key partner.”

Speaking during a meeting of Russia’s National Security Council, Putin described the plan as a “new version” and “modernized plan” of what was discussed with the US ahead of the Alaska summit earlier this year, and said Moscow had received it. He added: “I believe it can also form the basis for a final peace settlement.”

But he said, “The text was not discussed with us in any way, and I can guess why,” adding that Washington has not yet been able to obtain Ukraine’s approval. “Ukraine is against it. Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still living in illusions and dreaming of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield,” he said.

Trump says he wants Ukraine to respond within a week

US President Donald Trump said in a radio interview on Friday that he wants an answer from Zelensky on his 28-point plan by Thursday, but says an extension is possible to finalize the terms.

“I had a lot of deadlines, but if things go well, you tend to extend the deadlines,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News Radio’s Brian Kilmeade Show. “But Thursday is the right time — we think it’s the right time.”

While Zelensky has offered to negotiate with the United States and Russia, he noted that Ukraine may not get everything it wants and must face the possibility of losing American support if it takes a stand.

He urged Ukrainians to “stop fighting” among themselves, in a possible reference to a major corruption scandal that has drawn strong criticism of the government, and said peace talks next week “will be very difficult.”

Europe says it will continue to support Ukraine

Zelensky earlier spoke by phone with the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, who assured him of their continued support, as European officials rushed to respond to US proposals that apparently caught them by surprise.

For fear of antagonizing Trump, European and Ukrainian responses were carefully worded and clearly praised American peace efforts.

Merz’s office said that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelensky of their “full and unwavering support on the path to a lasting and just peace” in Ukraine.

The four leaders welcomed American efforts to end the war. “They welcomed in particular the commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and the willingness to provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees,” the statement added.

They added that the contact line should be the starting point for reaching an agreement, and “Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to effectively defend Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

Starmer said Ukraine’s right to “determine its own future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle.”

The existential threat to Europe

European countries believe that their future is at stake in Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion, and have insisted on consulting them in peace efforts.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief in Brussels, said: “The war that Russia is waging against Ukraine poses an existential threat to Europe. We all want this war to end. But how it ends is what matters.” “Russia has no legal right whatsoever to obtain any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are decided by Ukraine.”

In his radio interview, Trump rejected the idea that the settlement, which offers abundant concessions to Russia, would encourage Putin to carry out more malicious actions against his European neighbors.

“He’s not thinking about more war,” Trump said of Putin. “He’s thinking about punishment. Say what you want. I mean, this was supposed to be a one-day war four years ago.”

A European government official said the US plans had not been formally presented to Ukraine’s European backers.

The official said many of the proposals were “deeply worrying,” adding that a bad deal with Ukraine would also pose a threat to broader European security.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the plan publicly.

“The European Union has not been informed (about) any plans in a formal way,” European Council President Antonio Costa said in Johannesburg of the US proposals.

Ukraine is studying the proposals

Ukrainian officials said they were studying the US proposals, and Zelensky said he expected to speak with Trump about the issue in the coming days.

A US team began developing the plan shortly after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustam Omerov, a senior adviser to Zelensky, according to a senior Trump administration official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official added that Umarov approved most of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelensky.

However, Umarov on Friday denied this version of events. He said he only organized meetings and prepared for the talks.

He added that technical talks between the United States and Ukraine are continuing in Kyiv.

“We are thoughtfully studying partners’ proposals within the framework of Ukraine’s established principles – sovereignty, security of the people and just peace,” he said.

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Hatton contributed from Lisbon, Portugal. Harriet Morris in Tallinn, Estonia, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Angela Charlton in Paris, Pan Bellas in London, and Aamer Madhani in Washington also contributed reporting.