Ukraine coordinates with European allies after US proposes peace plan requiring territorial concessions, army cuts, and NATO exclusion for Kyiv.
KYIV: Ukraine is urgently coordinating with European allies to respond to a US peace proposal that incorporates multiple Russian demands.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has resisted the 28-point plan while Russian leader Vladimir Putin has welcomed it.
The proposal would force Ukraine to surrender territory, reduce its military, and pledge never to join NATO.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed discussing “the logic of our further steps” with counterparts from France, Britain, and the EU.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper separately affirmed that “Ukraine must determine its future”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said European leaders would emphasize “that there should be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” during G20 sidelines.
US President Donald Trump gave Ukraine less than one week to accept the deal.
Zelensky pledged to ensure any agreement would not “betray” Ukraine’s interests while acknowledging he risked losing Washington’s support.
The Ukrainian president described this as “one of the most challenging moments” in the nation’s history and promised to propose alternatives.
Putin claimed the blueprint could “lay the foundation” for final peace but threatened further territorial seizures if Ukraine rejects negotiations.
Russia would gain territory, rejoin the global economy, and return to the G8 under the draft plan seen by AFP.
Putin accused Ukraine and European allies of “living under illusions and dreaming of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia”.
He warned that Russia’s recent recapture of Kupiansk “will inevitably be repeated in other key areas” if Kyiv walks away.
Ukraine’s military denies Russia has retaken Kupiansk, which changed hands multiple times since the 2022 invasion.
Zelensky recalled marshalling Ukraine’s initial defense, vowing “we did not betray Ukraine then, we will not do so now”.
Trump set November 27 as an “appropriate time” for Zelensky to agree but indicated flexibility.
“He’ll have to like it, and if he doesn’t like it, then you know, they should just keep fighting,” Trump told reporters.
Zelensky said Ukraine continues to “respect” Trump’s desire to end the war after talks with US Vice President JD Vance.
The Ukrainian leader held emergency calls with German, French, and British counterparts and plans direct talks with Trump.
Kyiv residents expressed divided opinions on whether to negotiate or reject the proposal as capitulation.
Seamstress Yanina predicted neither side would make concessions and the war would continue.
Russia recently conducted one of its deadliest attacks this year on western Ukraine.
The death toll in Ternopil rose to 32 after cruise missiles struck apartment blocks.
This attack coincided with Russia battering Ukraine’s energy grid and pressuring stretched frontline troops.
The US plan would recognize Moscow-controlled territories as “de facto” Russian and require Ukrainian troop withdrawals from Donetsk.
Kyiv would cap its army at 600,000, exclude NATO membership, and host no NATO troops.
In exchange, Ukraine would receive unspecified security guarantees and reconstruction funds from frozen Russian assets.
Zelensky described Ukraine’s dilemma as “either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner”. – AFP
