KYIV, Nov 22: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Kyiv could lose Washington’s backing because of a US proposal on ending the war, the BBC reported.
In a national address, he said the country may soon face a hard choice: either accept terms he believes strip Ukraine of its self-respect, or risk tension with its key military partner. He called the moment one of the most difficult since the invasion began, the BBC said.
The proposal includes concessions Ukraine had previously rejected, such as ceding parts of the east still under its control, reducing the army size, and stepping back from its NATO ambitions. Moscow has welcomed the document, with President Vladimir Putin saying it could serve as a possible basis for negotiations, according to the BBC.
Putin told his security council that Moscow had received the proposal, though it had not been discussed with the Kremlin in detail. He indicated readiness to continue the war while hinting at some room for negotiation.
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Later, US President Donald Trump said Zelensky would “have to like” the plan or the fighting would continue. Ukraine depends on US-supplied weapons, including air defence systems and intelligence support, the BBC noted.
Speaking outside the presidential office in Kyiv, Zelensky warned that Ukraine will come under heavy pressure to soften its stance. He urged citizens to stay united and said the government will quietly work with the US and other partners to propose alternative ideas.
He also said he had received firm assurances of support from UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a joint call, as reported by the BBC.
Ahead of the G20 meeting in South Africa, Starmer said allies remain committed to helping Ukraine reach a fair and lasting peace. He added that world leaders would examine the proposal on the table and consider possible adjustments as talks progress. Trump will not attend the summit, the BBC added.
Zelensky also said he held a lengthy conversation with US Vice-President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, noting that Kyiv respected Trump’s stated goal of ending the conflict. Trump later warned Ukraine could lose even more territory unless it accepts the deal soon. He gave Ukraine until 27 November, the US Thanksgiving holiday, to agree, though he noted the deadline could shift if talks moved forward, according to the BBC.
At the White House, Trump said the US believes it has a workable path to peace and that Zelensky will need to sign off on it. Washington has been pressing Kyiv to move quickly and sent senior Pentagon officials to the Ukrainian capital earlier in the week, the BBC said.
Putin, meanwhile, told his military commanders that Russia will keep fighting until its objectives are met. His remarks came as the leaked 28-point US proposal circulated, emerging at a moment when Russia claims slow gains in the southeast and Ukraine faces a domestic corruption scandal, the BBC observed.
The White House has pushed back against claims that Kyiv was excluded from drafting the document. A US official told CBS News that the proposal was shaped after discussions with Ukraine’s security chief Rustem Umerov, who made several changes before submitting it to Zelensky, the BBC reported.
The leaked draft calls for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from parts of Donetsk they still hold and recognises Russian control over Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea. It also freezes battle lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine’s military would be capped at 600,000 personnel, with European fighter jets stationed in Poland. The plan promises security guarantees for Kyiv but offers no details. It also proposes lifting sanctions on Russia and restoring it to the G7, the BBC said.
Reactions inside Ukraine have been sharp. A soldier’s widow in Kyiv told the BBC the proposal feels like a plan for the war to continue. Another Ukrainian living under occupation said residents fear being abandoned. Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukraine and continues to push forward despite heavy losses, according to the BBC.
