Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a grave warning, stating the nation is facing one of the most difficult periods in its modern history. This declaration comes amidst intense diplomatic pressure from President Donald Trump, who is pushing Kyiv to accept a controversial, US-backed peace plan that demands significant territorial concessions to Russia. Ukrainian and European officials have immediately and forcefully labeled the proposal as tantamount to national capitulation.
The urgency of the situation is heightened by Trump’s insistence on a rapid resolution. He set the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday next Thursday as an “acceptable deadline” for Ukraine to sign the binding agreement. This sudden and stringent timeline has caused alarm throughout Europe, where leaders are expressing deep concern over the dangerously one-sided nature of the terms. Analysis indicates the proposed deal includes concessions that would drastically degrade Ukraine’s ability to defend itself in the future.
In a somber and resolute address delivered from outside the presidential palace, President Zelenskyy articulated the profound dilemma facing his government. He described it as an “impossible choice”: either compromise national dignity and sovereignty or risk forfeiting crucial support from a US administration actively pressuring Kyiv to accept terms heavily favored by Moscow. He stressed that the country must decide between accepting this plan or preparing to endure another, exceptionally difficult winter of conflict.
Zelenskyy argued passionately that embracing the proposed deal would effectively strip Ukraine of its fundamental freedoms, dignity, and justice. He issued a sharp warning against placing any trust in a country, Russia, that he noted had already launched major invasions against Ukraine twice in recent history. The President reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to defending the nation’s constitution and never betraying its people, invoking the spirit of resistance that saw Ukraine successfully refuse to surrender in 2022.
European leaders reacted swiftly, consolidating their support for Kyiv and explicitly rejecting Trump’s proposed map, which would force Ukraine to abandon key cities and severely shrink its military capacity. They unanimously insisted that any durable, lasting peace must begin with a fundamental respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and proceed from the existing line of contact, rather than from terms dictated by Russian demands.