Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing perhaps the most difficult period of his leadership as he navigates a US-backed peace plan that demands painful compromises. The proposal, which Vladimir Putin recently described as a viable “basis” for agreement, initially presented Ukraine with what Zelensky called an “impossible choice” between losing dignity or losing key American support. With the war dragging into its fourth year, the Ukrainian leader has hinted that the sheer toll of the conflict may make some concessions unavoidable.
The terms discussed are severe. The original plan effectively barred Ukraine from NATO membership—a key security goal for Kyiv—and demanded the cession of vast swathes of territory, including the Donbas and recognition of Crimea. It also called for significant demilitarization. However, following intense last-minute diplomacy by European allies, the draft was revised, reducing the points of contention from 28 to 19. Kyiv has tentatively agreed to proceed with this updated framework.
On the other side of the table, Vladimir Putin is projecting confidence and aggression. While welcoming the Trump-backed initiative, he has laid down a strict ultimatum: Ukrainian troops must withdraw from territories claimed by Russia, or the Kremlin will settle the matter by force. Putin further complicated matters by labeling the Ukrainian government “illegitimate” due to postponed elections, asserting that any deal signed by Zelensky would be legally impossible to enforce from Russia’s perspective.
The international community remains divided on the proposal. Critics in the US have slammed earlier versions of the plan as a “Russian wish list,” noting that it freezes the conflict along current frontlines in regions like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The demand that the world recognize Russian territorial gains is a bitter pill for Western nations that have spent years supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Despite the political maneuvering and the upcoming visit of Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow, the violence shows no signs of abating. The disconnect between the negotiation rooms and the battlefield was highlighted this week when Russian drones struck residential targets in Zaporizhzhia. For Zelensky, the challenge is now to salvage a peace deal that ensures survival without capitulating entirely to an adversary who continues to attack while talking peace.
