Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a strong warning against trusting Russia, noting the country has “already attacked Ukraine twice,” as he faces an “impossible choice” regarding Donald Trump’s peace deal. The US-backed proposal requires territorial cessions and is condemned by Kyiv and European officials as total capitulation.
The urgency is driven by Trump’s insistence on a rapid resolution, setting Thanksgiving next Thursday as the “acceptable deadline” for Ukraine to sign the agreement. European leaders are deeply alarmed, viewing the terms as dangerously one-sided, demanding concessions that would fundamentally weaken Ukraine’s long-term defense capabilities.
Outside the presidential palace, Zelenskyy detailed the nation’s wrenching dilemma: maintain national dignity and face potential isolation, or accept Moscow’s terms under pressure from a powerful US administration. He stressed the immediate choice is between signing the plan or enduring another “extremely difficult winter.”
The President passionately defended the necessity of holding firm, arguing the deal would strip Ukraine of its freedom, dignity, and justice. He vowed to protect the constitution and never betray his people, drawing strength from the defiant refusal to surrender that defined 2022.
European leaders immediately rejected Trump’s proposed map, which would compel Ukraine to surrender key cities and shrink its military strength. They insisted that the foundation of any lasting peace must be respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and must be negotiated from the existing line of contact, not based on terms dictated by Russia.
