Rescuers sifted through debris at a market hit by a Russian airstrike in Zaporizhzhia, underscoring the conflict’s ongoing toll on civilians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday gave a cautious response to a new U.S. proposal aimed at ending nearly four years of war in Ukraine, saying the “new” and “modernized” plan “could form the basis of a final peace settlement.” Putin added that while Moscow had received the text, it had not been discussed with Russia in any meaningful way and suggested Washington had been unable to secure Kyiv’s consent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation as a pivotal moment for his country, saying Ukraine faces a difficult choice between defending its sovereign rights and risking the loss of key U.S. support while leaders weigh the U.S. proposal. He said he would engage constructively with Washington but reiterated that Ukraine would insist on fair treatment.
The U.S. plan features several provisions long sought by Moscow while offering only limited security guarantees to Kyiv. It reportedly contemplates Ukrainian territorial concessions to Russia, reductions in Ukraine’s armed forces and a bar on NATO membership — positions Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected. Officials in Kyiv are reviewing the proposal and preparing further discussions with U.S. leaders.
Zelenskyy spoke for nearly an hour with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to go over the outlines of the proposal. U.S. President Donald Trump, in a radio interview, pressed for a response to his 28-point plan by Thursday, though he said deadlines could be extended if talks were making progress.
Acknowledging the pressure on Kyiv, Zelenskyy warned Ukrainians to stop internal divisions — likely a reference to a domestic corruption scandal intensifying criticism of his government — and said next week’s peace talks would be “very difficult.” He also said Ukraine may not secure every demand it seeks but would continue to work calmly with the U.S. and other partners.
European leaders swiftly moved to reassure Ukraine of ongoing support after the U.S. proposals became public. Zelenskyy spoke by phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Their offices said the leaders welcomed U.S. efforts while stressing commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and the need for solid security guarantees. They indicated the current line of contact should be the starting point for any agreement and insisted the Ukrainian armed forces remain capable of defending the country.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that Ukraine has the fundamental right to decide its own future. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia had no legal right to demand concessions from the country it invaded and that any settlement’s terms should be for Ukraine to determine. European Council President Antonio Costa noted the EU had not been officially briefed on the U.S. proposals.
Some European officials speaking anonymously described aspects of the U.S. plan as “quite concerning,” warning that a poor deal for Kyiv could endanger broader European security. Trump downplayed fears that concessions to Russia would spur further aggression, saying Putin is focused on punishment rather than seeking additional war.
U.S. and Ukrainian accounts differ over how the plan emerged. A senior U.S. administration official said a team began drafting the proposal after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy; that official said Umerov accepted most of the plan with changes and then presented it to the president. Umerov denied that characterization, saying he organized meetings and prepared talks but did not agree to the plan unilaterally. He said technical negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine are continuing in Kyiv and that Ukraine is considering the proposals according to its fixed principles: sovereignty, the safety of the people and a just peace.
Ukrainian officials said Zelenskyy expected to speak with Trump in the coming days as Kyiv continues to weigh the U.S. offer and consult with European partners. The debate over the plan highlights deep divisions among Western allies about the terms and risks of any negotiated end to the war, and underscores the difficult choices facing Ukraine as it seeks security, sovereignty and international support.