Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fiercely criticized the US-backed peace proposal pushed by Donald Trump, warning it would strip the nation of its “freedom, dignity, and justice.” Zelenskyy says the country faces an “impossible choice” to either accept territorial cessions to Russia or risk losing US support. The deal is widely condemned as capitulation.
The urgency is driven by Trump’s aggressive deadline, setting Thanksgiving next Thursday as the “acceptable deadline” for Ukraine to sign the binding agreement. This swift demand has raised alarm across Europe, where leaders are expressing deep concern that the terms are dangerously one-sided, requiring concessions that severely compromise Ukraine’s long-term defense capabilities.
In a somber and pivotal address outside the presidential palace, Zelenskyy defined the agonizing dilemma: choose to preserve national dignity or risk alienating a US administration that is actively coercing Kyiv into accepting Moscow’s demands. He stated the immediate choice is between signing the agreement or enduring another harsh winter of conflict.
The President passionately argued the moral case against the deal, referencing Russia’s history of two major invasions as proof that they cannot be trusted. He vowed to protect the constitution and never betray his people, drawing strength from the national refusal to surrender during the full-scale invasion in 2022.
European leaders swiftly provided diplomatic cover for Kyiv, rejecting Trump’s proposed map, which included forcing Ukraine to surrender cities and reduce its military size. They stood united, insisting that any durable peace must be founded on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and must start from the existing line of contact, not terms imposed by Russia.