Zelensky: We May Lose U.S. Support Due to Peace Plan

SadaNews - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Friday that his country could lose U.S. support if it rejects the American plan aimed at ending the war with Russia. In a video message directed to Ukrainians, he stated, "Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: loss of dignity or the risk of losing a major partner."

In a related context, Zelensky has held phone talks with U.S. Vice President Jay Dee Vance regarding the American plan to end the war, according to a source in the Ukrainian presidency who spoke to reporters, including a correspondent from Agence France-Presse, noting that the call "ended about half an hour ago."

Rustem Umerov, the chief Ukrainian negotiator and secretary of the National Security Council, confirmed that Kyiv "will not accept any plan that exceeds its red lines."

Increased American Pressure

At the same time, Ukraine is facing intense pressure from Washington to agree to the deal, with threats of halting the provision of intelligence and weapons, according to knowledgeable sources who spoke to Reuters. One of them explained that the United States is asking Kyiv to sign the framework agreement by next Thursday.

Several sources revealed that the American plan, composed of 28 points, includes significant concessions from the Ukrainian side after Kyiv had previously rejected ceding any part of its territory.

The plan stipulates that Ukraine must relinquish the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in the Donbas area, in addition to recognizing Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, as Russian territory in practice.

The plan also requires a freeze on the lines of contact in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia, which Moscow illegally annexed.

Political and Electoral Conditions

The plan asks Kyiv to abandon its pursuit of NATO membership and not to agree to the deployment of international forces on its territory, in addition to holding elections within 100 days.

In light of a rising corruption scandal that has led to the ousting of two ministers in Ukraine, a clause related to reviewing foreign aid was removed, and replaced with a call for a "blanket amnesty," according to a senior American official quoted by Agence France-Presse, which Umerov indirectly denied.