Trump Sets Thursday Deadline For Ukraine To Accept Peace Plan
President Trump urged Ukraine to accept a new U.S.-crafted 28-point peace framework by Thanksgiving, even as President Zelensky warned Friday the plan forces Ukraine to choose between “losing dignity or risk losing a major partner.”
Trump said in an interview on Fox News Friday that the deadline is “an appropriate time,” adding Ukraine is “losing land” and could “lose in a short period of time.”
He also said the U.S. has no plans to lift sanctions on Russia while waiting for a response to the peace plan.
The proposal, which would grant Russia a number of their demands more than three years after launching the offensive war, has raised alarms among Ukraine’s allies.
THE 28 POINTS
The plan includes a massive reduction of Ukraine’s army and ceding territory to Russia that is not even currently occupied — red lines for Ukraine. The nation would also need to agree to never join NATO, however, a “decisive coordinated military response” would follow any further Russian incursions onto Ukrainian territory.
U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll presented Zelensky with the plan Thursday, drafted by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
“Either a difficult 28-point plan, or an extremely difficult winter, the most difficult one — and further risks ahead. A life without freedom, dignity, and justice, and being forced to trust someone who has already attacked us twice,” Zelensky added in his 10-minute Friday address.
U.S. officials have told reporters the Thursday deadline is more of a goal than a firm requirement, NBC News reports. Zelensky said Ukrainian officials are holding calls with U.S. and European leaders to ensure Kyiv’s core positions are considered.