Rescuers work amid rubble at a market hit by a Russian airstrike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine — a scene that underlines the urgency of diplomatic efforts even as fighting continues.
KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday gave cautious public backing to a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, calling it a “new version” and a “modernized plan” that “could form the basis of a final peace settlement.” He added that, to his knowledge, the text had not been substantively negotiated with Moscow and suggested Ukraine had not agreed to it. Putin said Kyiv opposed the proposal and noted that Ukraine and its European partners remain intent on seeking a strategic battlefield advantage over Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the moment as pivotal for his country, saying Ukraine may face a stark choice between defending its sovereign rights or risking the loss of crucial U.S. support as leaders weigh the American plan. He called the current pressure on Ukraine among the hardest he’s faced and warned the nation could confront a “very difficult choice” between maintaining dignity and preserving a key partner.
Reports on the U.S. plan say it includes many long-standing Russian demands while offering only limited security guarantees to Ukraine. Provisions described in reporting envision Ukraine ceding territory to Russia, cutting the size of its armed forces and abandoning a path to NATO membership — elements Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected. Zelenskyy said he would engage constructively with the United States and spoke Friday for nearly an hour with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to discuss the proposal.
U.S. President Donald Trump told a radio audience he expects an answer from Zelenskyy on the 28-point plan by Thursday but signaled he could extend that deadline if talks are making progress. Zelenskyy has indicated he is willing to negotiate with both the U.S. and Russia while warning Ukraine may not obtain every demand. He also urged unity at home amid a major corruption scandal that has drawn criticism of his government, and cautioned that upcoming peace talks will be difficult.
European leaders moved quickly to reassure Kyiv while acknowledging Washington’s diplomatic initiative. Zelenskyy spoke by phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The four leaders emphasized continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, the need for strong security guarantees, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point for any deal. They also stressed that Ukrainian forces must remain capable of effectively defending the country. Starmer reiterated that Ukraine has the right to determine its own future.
EU officials warned that the terms of any settlement will have broad consequences for the continent. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia has no legal right to demand concessions from the nation it invaded and that any agreement’s terms should be decided by Ukraine. A European government official, speaking anonymously, said the U.S. proposals had not been formally presented to Ukraine’s European backers and described many elements as “quite concerning,” warning that a bad deal for Kyiv could jeopardize wider European security. European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU had not been officially informed about the plan.
Ukrainian officials said they were reviewing the U.S. proposals and that Zelenskyy expected to speak with Trump in the coming days. A senior U.S. administration official said a U.S. team began drafting the plan after envoy Steve Witkoff met Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, and that Umerov agreed to most elements after modifications and presented it to the Ukrainian president. Umerov denied that account on Friday, saying his role was limited to organizing meetings and helping prepare talks. He added that technical discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials are ongoing and that Ukraine is “thoughtfully processing partners’ proposals” within the framework of its stated principles: sovereignty, the security of its people and a just peace.