Trump Presses Kyiv To Accept ‘Difficult’ Peace Deal Or Risk Losing Support

November 22, 2025

President Donald Trump has set a deadline for the war in Ukraine, stating Friday that he wants Kyiv to accept a new peace framework by Thanksgiving. The demand has placed the Ukrainian government in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describes as an agonizing position, forcing the nation to choose between its “dignity” and the survival provided by its “key partner.”

According to three U.S. officials, the White House is pushing for Kyiv to sign off on a 28-point peace plan by Thursday. While officials characterized the date as a goal rather than a hard cutoff, the pressure from Washington is mounting.

Speaking on Brian Kilmeade’s radio show Friday, President Trump called the Thursday deadline “an appropriate time.” He offered a grim assessment of the battlefield, noting that Ukraine is “losing land” and suggesting the country could lose the war entirely “in a short period of time.” Trump clarified that U.S. sanctions on Russia would remain in place while the administration awaits a response.

A Deal of Concessions The proposed framework, drafted by U.S. officials, outlines terms that would fundamentally reshape Ukraine’s borders and future security. According to a draft of the plan confirmed by sources familiar with the negotiations, Kyiv would be required to surrender the eastern Donbas region to Russia—including areas its troops still fiercely defend—and cap the size of its military. Additionally, Ukraine would agree never to join NATO, and the annexed Crimean Peninsula would be recognized as de facto Russian territory.

Critics and analysts have noted the plan demands significant concessions from Kyiv with few obvious compromises from the Kremlin.

The proposal has sent shockwaves through Kyiv. In a somber 10-minute video address, Zelenskyy prepared his nation for a “very difficult, eventful” week.

“This is one of the most difficult moments in our history,” Zelenskyy said. “Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner; either the difficult 28 points, or a very difficult winter.”

Despite the stark warning, Zelenskyy later signaled a willingness to engage, stating on social media that he had spoken with Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. “We agreed to work together… to make the path to peace truly doable,” he wrote, adding that Ukraine views “every realistic proposal positively.”

Confusion and Controversy The rollout of the plan has been marked by confusion regarding Ukrainian input. A senior U.S. official claimed the plan was drafted following discussions with Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, alleging Umerov agreed to the majority of the points.

Umerov flatly denied this on Friday, stating his role during a recent U.S. visit was purely technical. “I provided no assessments or, even more so, approvals of any points,” he said.

The diplomatic scramble comes at a precarious moment for the Ukrainian leadership, which is grappling with a $100 million corruption scandal implicating high-profile figures. Russian President Vladimir Putin seized on the internal turmoil Thursday, claiming the scandal proved Kyiv’s government was “sitting on golden pots” while ignoring the plight of its soldiers.

Moscow’s Response While the White House describes the plan as a “win-win scenario,” Moscow has reacted with cautious opportunism. President Putin suggested the proposal could “form the basis of a final peace settlement,” though he warned that if Ukraine rejects it, Russia will continue to pursue its objectives through “armed struggle.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the immediacy of the talks, telling reporters Friday that “nothing substantive is being discussed” officially yet, though he urged Zelenskyy to make a “responsible decision” before it is too late.

Battlefield Reality The diplomatic pressure is compounded by a worsening situation on the front lines. Ukrainian troops in the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk are under immense pressure, and recent Russian missile strikes in Ternopil killed at least 25 civilians.

As the Thanksgiving deadline approaches, European allies have expressed unease, fearing a deal that imposes major concessions on Ukraine could embolden Russia further. Zelenskyy has held urgent calls with leaders in Britain, Germany, and France to ensure Kyiv’s “principled stances are taken into account” as the clock ticks toward Thursday.