Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a sobering national address on Friday, warning citizens that their country faces one of the most challenging decisions in its nearly four-year struggle against Russia's full-scale invasion. The president acknowledged that Ukraine must navigate difficult negotiations with Washington over a U.S. peace proposal that contains many of Moscow's longstanding demands.
The Difficult Choice Ahead
In his recorded speech, Zelenskyy described the current pressure on Ukraine as "one of the hardest" moments the nation has faced since the war began. He framed the dilemma starkly: "Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner."
The U.S. peace proposal presents several challenging conditions for Ukraine, including requirements that would force the country to hand over territory to Russia - something Zelenskyy has repeatedly vowed never to do. The plan also calls for reducing the size of Ukraine's military and would block the country's coveted path to NATO membership, while offering only limited security guarantees.
Zelenskyy pledged to engage in constructive discussions with American officials but insisted that "Ukraine's national interest must be taken into account." He emphasized his government would "work calmly with America and all partners" rather than making loud public statements about the sensitive negotiations.
European Allies Rally Behind Ukraine
As news of the U.S. proposal emerged, European leaders scrambled to reassure Ukraine of their continued support. Zelenskyy spoke by phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who all promised their "unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" in Ukraine.
The European response appeared carefully calibrated to avoid antagonizing U.S. President Donald Trump while maintaining solidarity with Ukraine. The four leaders welcomed American efforts to end the war but emphasized that "the line of contact must be the departure point for an agreement" and that Ukrainian forces "must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively."
Starmer reinforced this position, stating that Ukraine's right to "determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle."
European Concerns About Security Implications
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed deeper concerns in Brussels, noting that "Russia's war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe." She emphasized that while everyone wants the war to end, "how it ends matters" significantly.
Kallas pointedly reminded that "Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded" and stressed that "the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide."
A European government official, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, revealed that the U.S. plans hadn't been officially presented to Ukraine's European backers and described many proposals as "quite concerning." The official warned that a bad deal for Ukraine would also threaten broader European security.
Conflicting Accounts and Ongoing Violence
The development of the U.S. peace proposal has generated conflicting accounts between American and Ukrainian officials. A senior Trump administration official claimed that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff began drafting the plan after talks with Rustem Umerov, a top Zelenskyy adviser, and that Umerov agreed to most of the plan after modifications.
However, Umerov denied this version on Friday, stating he only organized meetings and prepared talks, while emphasizing that technical discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials continue in Kyiv. He affirmed that Ukraine is "thoughtfully processing the partners' proposals within the framework of Ukraine's unchanging principles - sovereignty, people's security, and a just peace."
Meanwhile, the Kremlin offered a reserved reaction, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Moscow hasn't officially received the U.S. proposal, though he acknowledged seeing "some innovations" and confirmed that U.S.-Russian diplomatic contacts are ongoing.
As diplomatic maneuvers continued, the violence on the ground persisted. A Russian glide bomb struck a residential district in Zaporizhzhia, killing five people and injuring ten, including a teenage girl. The attack damaged high-rise apartments for the third time since the war began and destroyed a local market. Separately, a Russian drone assault on Odesa injured five people, including a 16-year-old boy.
Zelenskyy concluded his address by urging Ukrainians to "stop fighting" each other, possibly referencing a major corruption scandal that has brought fierce government criticism, and warned that peace talks next week "will be very difficult."
