‎Putin Responds to U.S. Peace Plan as Trump Pressures Zelenskyy for Swift Decision

‎Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that his country may soon face a critical decision as global leaders examine a U.S. peace proposal viewed as favorable to Russia. His comments followed a national address in which he said Ukraine must balance the protection of its sovereign rights with the American support it continues to rely on.

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Putin cautiously backs a U.S. peace plan as Trump sets a deadline for Ukraine, and Zelenskyy weighs the proposal amid European pledges of continued support.

‎Press Service Of The President Of Ukraine via AP

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‎Russian President Vladimir Putin cautiously welcomed the U.S. plan, calling it a possible basis for a final settlement to the nearly four-year conflict. The proposal contains several long-standing Russian demands, including territorial concessions, a reduced Ukrainian military, and restrictions blocking Ukraine’s NATO ambitions. Putin accused Ukraine of rejecting the plan and described Kyiv’s position as unrealistic.

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‎Zelenskyy did not dismiss the proposal but emphasized the need for fair treatment as he held talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. He said Ukraine is under intense pressure and faces the possibility of losing a key partner if it refuses terms that limit its national aspirations.

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‎Putin addressed Russia’s National Security Council and described the U.S. proposal as a revised version of ideas discussed before the Alaska summit earlier in the year. He said the document had not been fully negotiated with Moscow and claimed the U.S. has been unable to secure Ukrainian approval. He said Ukraine and European allies still believe they can inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

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‎U.S. President Donald Trump said he expects Zelenskyy to respond to his 28-point plan by Thursday, though he acknowledged a possible extension. He said Ukraine must confront the reality that it may not receive everything it wants despite its willingness to negotiate with both Washington and Moscow.

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‎Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to pull together amid internal tensions and referenced a major corruption scandal that has caused divisions at home. He said the talks scheduled for next week will be extremely difficult.

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‎European leaders assured Zelenskyy of ongoing support during calls on Friday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that their positions remain unchanged and emphasized that Ukraine must retain the ability to defend its sovereignty. The leaders welcomed U.S. involvement and highlighted commitments to Ukraine’s security.

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‎EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia’s invasion represents an existential threat to Europe and stated that Ukraine must determine the terms of any agreement. European officials said the U.S. plan had not been formally presented to them, and one senior official described several proposals as concerning due to their potential impact on European security.

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‎European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU had not received the U.S. proposal through official channels. Other European governments continued reviewing the situation as more details emerged.

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‎Ukrainian officials said they are examining the U.S. plan. Zelenskyy expects to speak with Trump soon about the proposals. A senior Trump administration official said U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian adviser Rustem Umerov held preliminary discussions and made revisions to the plan before it reached Zelenskyy. Umerov denied approving the terms and said his role was limited to organizing meetings and preparing discussions. He said technical talks between the U.S. and Ukraine are ongoing and affirmed that Ukraine is reviewing the proposals based on its principles of sovereignty, security, and a just peace.