Rescuers work at a market destroyed by a Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. — Kateryna Klochko/AP
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday cautiously welcomed a U.S. proposal to end Moscow’s 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 said, however, that the text had not been discussed with Russia in any substantive way and suggested the U.S. had not secured Ukraine’s consent. “Ukraine is against it,” Putin said, adding that Kyiv and its European allies remain hopeful of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country faces a pivotal moment in the conflict and may have to choose between defending its sovereign rights or risking the loss of American support as leaders consider the U.S. peace proposal. Zelenskyy described the current pressure on Ukraine as among the hardest and warned the country could confront a “very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner.”
The U.S. plan reportedly includes many long-standing Russian demands while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine. It envisions Ukraine ceding territory to Russia, reducing the size of its armed forces and abandoning a path to NATO membership — provisions Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected. Zelenskyy said he would hold constructive discussions with the United States and 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 the 28-point plan by Thursday but indicated he could extend the deadline if negotiations were progressing. “I’ve had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines,” he said.
Zelenskyy has signaled willingness to negotiate with both the U.S. and Russia but warned Ukraine may not get everything it seeks. He urged unity at home, apparently referring to a major corruption scandal that has sparked criticism of his government, and said peace talks next week “will be very difficult.”
European leaders quickly sought to reassure Kyiv while acknowledging the U.S. effort. Zelenskyy spoke by phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who assured him of continued support and welcomed U.S. efforts to end the war. The four leaders emphasized commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, the need for solid security guarantees and that the line of contact should be the starting point for any agreement. They also stressed that Ukrainian forces must remain capable of effectively defending the country’s sovereignty. Starmer underscored that Ukraine has the right to determine its future under its own sovereignty.
European officials warned 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” and that any terms of an agreement should be decided by Ukraine. A European government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. plans had not been officially presented to Ukraine’s European backers and described many proposals as “quite concerning,” warning a bad deal for Ukraine could threaten broader European security. European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU had not been officially communicated with 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. According to a senior Trump administration official, a U.S. team began drafting the plan after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy. That official said Umerov agreed to most of the plan after modifications and presented it to Zelenskyy. Umerov denied that account on Friday, saying he only organized meetings and helped prepare talks. He said technical discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials were ongoing 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.”