WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump said Friday that he wants Ukraine to accept a new U.S.-crafted peace framework by Thanksgiving, setting a deadline for Kyiv amid warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the proposal could force his country to choose between its dignity and a “key partner.”
U.S. Push for 28-Point Peace Plan
The White House is urging Ukraine to sign off on a 28-point peace plan designed to end the war with Russia. Trump said the Thursday goal is “an appropriate time” for approval and emphasized that U.S. sanctions on Russia would remain in place while waiting for Ukraine’s response.
“They’re losing land,” Trump said, warning that Ukraine risks further losses if the deal is not accepted. He described the framework as “a way of getting peace” but acknowledged that Zelenskyy must approve it.
Zelenskyy Warns of High Stakes
In a video address to Ukrainians, Zelenskyy described the current situation as “one of the most difficult moments in our history.” He said Kyiv faces a hard choice: either accept the 28-point plan under pressure, risking compromise of dignity, or risk losing a key partner.
“Either 28 difficult points, or an extremely harsh winter… A life without freedom, without dignity, without justice,” Zelenskyy said, urging national unity during the critical week ahead.
Ukraine Bolsters Air Defences
Amid the negotiations and ongoing conflict, Zelenskyy signed a letter of intent with France to acquire 100 Rafale fighter jets and potentially SAMP-T air defence systems, radars, air-to-air missiles, and aerial bombs. He called the systems “one of the greatest air defences in the world.”
The move comes as Russian drone and missile attacks increase, with Moscow reporting capture of villages in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, and at least six deaths overnight.
