Rescuers work at a market destroyed by a Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Kateryna Klochko/AP
KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday cautiously welcomed a U.S. proposal to end Moscow’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine, saying the “new” and “modernized” plan “could form the basis of a final peace settlement.”
Putin said Moscow had received the plan but that “this text has not been discussed with us in any substantive way, and I can guess why. The U.S. administration has so far been unable to secure the consent of the Ukrainian side. Ukraine is against it. Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under illusions and the dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address earlier that his country faces a pivotal moment in its four-year fight to repel Russia’s invasion, and that Ukrainians may confront a choice between defending their sovereign rights or risking the loss of U.S. support while leaders consider the U.S. peace proposal.
The U.S. plan includes many demands long sought by Putin while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine. It envisions Ukraine ceding territory to Russia, shrinking its armed forces and blocking Ukraine’s path to NATO membership — measures Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected.
Zelenskyy said he would hold constructive discussions with Washington during what he called “truly one of the most difficult moments in our history.” He spoke for nearly an hour Friday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll about the proposal.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in a radio interview, said he wants an answer from Zelenskyy on his 28-point plan by Thursday but allowed that an extension could be granted if negotiations were progressing. “I’ve had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines,” Trump said. “But Thursday is it — we think an appropriate time.”
Zelenskyy indicated Ukraine may not obtain every demand it wants and acknowledged the pressure Kyiv is under. “Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest,” he said in a recorded speech. “Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner.” He added that Ukraine would “work calmly with America and all partners” but insisted on fair treatment.
He also urged Ukrainians to stop internal infighting, likely referencing a major corruption scandal that has intensified criticism of his government, and warned that peace talks next week “will be very difficult.”
European leaders moved quickly to reassure Kyiv of continued support after the U.S. proposals surfaced. Zelenskyy spoke by phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who pledged “unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace,” Merz’s office said.
The four leaders said they welcomed U.S. efforts, noting the commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and the readiness to provide solid security guarantees. They said the line of contact should be the starting point for any agreement and that the Ukrainian armed forces must remain capable of effectively defending Ukraine’s sovereignty. Starmer emphasized that Ukraine has the fundamental right to determine its own future.
European officials stressed that how the war ends matters for the continent. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, “Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide.”
Trump dismissed fears that the settlement, which includes concessions to Russia, would embolden further aggression in Europe. “He’s not thinking of more war,” Trump said of Putin. “He’s thinking punishment. Say what you want. I mean, this was supposed to be a one-day war that has been four years now.”
A European government official, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, said the U.S. plans had not been officially presented to Ukraine’s European backers and described many proposals as “quite concerning,” warning that a bad deal for Ukraine could threaten wider European security. European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU had not been officially communicated about any plans.
Ukrainian officials said they were reviewing the U.S. proposals and that Zelenskyy expected to speak with Trump in the coming days. A senior Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a U.S. team began drafting the plan after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy. The official said Umerov agreed to most of the plan after making modifications and then presented it to Zelenskyy.
Umerov denied that account, saying he only organized meetings and prepared talks. He said technical negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine were continuing in Kyiv and that Ukraine was “thoughtfully processing the partners’ proposals within the framework of Ukraine’s unchanging principles — sovereignty, people’s security, and a just peace.”