Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his national address on Friday that the latest U.S. peace proposal had placed Kiev in “one of the most difficult moments in its history.” According to Zelensky, Ukraine may soon have to choose between giving up elements of its sovereignty or risking the loss of long-standing American support.

The U.S. Proposal: Controversial and Pressured

The 28-point plan drafted by President Donald Trump’s team requires:

• Ukraine to hand over territory to Russia,
• Reduce the size of its military,
• Abandon its NATO ambitions.

Trump told Fox News that the deadline for accepting the plan was Thursday, adding, “I’ve had many deadlines, and if things go well you tend to extend them. But this time that doesn’t seem likely.”
Speaking later from the Oval Office, he insisted that Zelensky “has no other choice but to accept it.”

In his Friday video address, Zelensky emphasized the mounting pressure: “Ukraine may now be facing a very difficult choice—either losing honor or risking the loss of a key partner… facing 28 harsh points, or preparing for an extremely tough winter.”

He also said he held a one-hour meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, promising a “calm but determined” review of the proposal.

Putin’s Message: Cautious Support, Sharp Criticism

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking during a meeting of Russia’s National Security Council, described the proposal as a “modernized version” of what had been discussed with the U.S. during the Alaska summit with Trump in August, and said he believed it “could form the basis of a final peace agreement.”

But Putin stressed that the text had not been “substantively discussed” with Moscow and claimed that Washington had been unable to secure Kiev’s approval. He said, “Ukraine and its European allies remain under the illusion that they can inflict a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield,” accusing Kiev of refusing to be realistic.

He added that Russia was prepared to “show flexibility,” but that the agreement had not yet been properly negotiated with the United States.

A New Threshold in Regional Geopolitics

Caught between U.S. pressure, Russia’s cautious endorsement, and Ukraine’s insistence on sovereignty, the proposal marks not only a diplomatic turning point but also a decisive moment for Ukraine’s long-term security. Zelensky’s remarks suggest the country is heading into a period of heightened tension—both on the ground and at the negotiating table.