Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a stark warning that his country risks losing its most crucial international partner as the United States pressures Kyiv to accept a peace agreement heavily favouring Russian interests.
Ultimatum from Washington
According to multiple sources familiar with the negotiations, the U.S. has threatened to cease intelligence-sharing and weapons supplies to Ukraine unless President Zelenskyy agrees to a 28-point peace plan drafted by American and Russian officials. The deadline for acceptance has been set for next Thursday, creating what Zelenskyy described as "one of the most difficult moments in our history."
In a video address to the nation on Friday, Zelenskyy revealed the gravity of the situation, stating that Ukraine now faces a choice between "the loss of our dignity or the loss of our key partner." The proposed agreement would force Ukraine to cede significant territories currently occupied by Russian forces, accept permanent limitations on its military size, and formally renounce any future NATO membership aspirations.
European Allies Push Back
Kyiv's strongest European supporters have aligned with Zelenskyy in resisting elements of the proposed settlement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an emergency call with the Ukrainian leader on Friday, collectively affirming that Ukraine's armed forces must maintain their defensive capabilities and that any peace negotiations should begin from the current line of contact.
The dramatic acceleration of American efforts to broker a deal with Moscow has left European Union officials scrambling to respond. The EU has been struggling to establish a mechanism that would unlock approximately US$160 billion in funding to sustain Ukraine's war effort as American support appears to be diminishing.
Trump's Position on the Deadline
Former President Donald Trump, speaking to Fox News Radio on Friday, acknowledged the timeline while avoiding characterizing it as an absolute deadline. "I've had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines," Trump stated. "Thursday is, we think, an appropriate time."
Trump emphasized that the United States wants "the killing to stop" while noting that Ukraine continues to lose territory. He clarified that the U.S. currently has no plans to lift sanctions against Russia, despite pushing for the peace agreement that aligns with many of President Vladimir Putin's longstanding demands.
Zelenskyy later confirmed in a social media post that he had engaged in nearly an hour of discussions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who traveled to Kyiv specifically to address the proposed settlement. "We managed to cover a lot of details of the American side's proposals for ending the war," Zelenskyy wrote, adding that they agreed to work with both American and European security advisors to develop "a dignified path to peace."
The pressure on Zelenskyy's administration comes as Ukraine confronts devastating Russian air strikes targeting energy infrastructure ahead of winter, compounding uncertainty about continued Western military and financial support.
