Former US President Donald Trump has declared that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy will have to approve a controversial 28-point peace proposal to end the war with Russia, a plan that has drawn sharp criticism from members of his own party and international allies.
The Controversial Proposal
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday 22nd November 2025, Mr Trump appeared to dismiss concerns raised by President Zelenskyy about the plan. "He'll have to like it... at some point, he's going to have to accept something," Trump stated, referencing their February Oval Office meeting where he told Ukraine's leader "you don't have the cards."
The proposed settlement, which Kyiv has been given until Thursday to accept, would require Ukraine to withdraw from territory it still controls in eastern provinces that Russia claims to have annexed. In return, Moscow would give up smaller amounts of land it holds in other regions.
Additional terms include permanently barring Ukraine from joining NATO, capping its armed forces at 600,000 troops, and gradually lifting sanctions against Russia. Moscow would also be invited back into the G8, with frozen assets pooled into an investment fund.
International Reaction and Criticism
The plan has received significant pushback, including from prominent Republicans. Senator Roger Wicker, who chairs the Senate Committee on Armed Services, warned that the proposal "has real problems" and expressed scepticism about its ability to achieve peace.
"I am highly sceptical it will achieve peace... Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the world's most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin," Senator Wicker stated.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautiously welcomed the US proposals, saying they "could form the basis for a final peace settlement."
European nations including the UK, France and Germany are now working on a counterproposal with Kyiv, having not been consulted about Trump's plan. EU leaders will hold a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa to discuss their response.
Ukraine's Difficult Position
In a solemn speech to Ukrainians, President Zelenskyy described the current situation as "one of the most difficult days in our history" and warned of difficult dilemmas ahead.
"Either a loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner. Either accepting a complicated list of 28 demands or enduring an extremely harsh winter, the harshest yet, with all the risks that follow," Zelenskyy told his nation.
Washington has reportedly threatened to cut off intelligence sharing and weapons supplies if Kyiv refuses to accept the deal, placing additional pressure on the Ukrainian government.
Analysts have been highly critical of the proposal. Tim Ash from Chatham House think tank commented: "Russia gets everything it wants and Ukraine gets not very much." He added that if Zelenskyy accepts the terms, he anticipates "huge political, social and economic instability in Ukraine."
The situation represents a critical juncture in the conflict, with potential implications for European security and the international order that has prevailed since World War Two.
