Zelensky Warns Trump’s 28‑Point Peace Plan Could Cost Ukraine U.S. Military Support — Kyiv to Offer Alternatives

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that a U.S.-brokered 28-point peace proposal, championed by President Donald Trump, could force Kyiv into an impossible choice: accept terms that risk national dignity and sovereignty or face the loss of a key military partner if Washington withdraws weapons and intelligence support.

Overview

The White House presented a draft 28-point plan reportedly negotiated by U.S. and Russian intermediaries and set a tight deadline for Kyiv to accept. President Trump publicly suggested Ukraine had until next Thursday — around Thanksgiving — to agree, and U.S. officials warned that failure to accept could lead to suspension of arms and intelligence assistance.

Kyiv’s response

Zelensky delivered a sombre address saying Ukraine would propose alternatives and insisting any settlement must deliver a "real, dignified peace" that protects Ukrainians' freedom and territorial integrity. He pledged his teams would work "24/7" to ensure the plan does not sacrifice Ukraine's sovereignty or international law.

Key disputed elements

European partners object to clauses that appear to recognise Russian control over parts of eastern Ukraine and Crimea, and to provisions that would bar Ukrainian NATO membership. Reports say the plan would constrain Ukraine’s security posture in ways many allies view as unacceptable, although some leaked elements are less restrictive than earlier drafts — for example, they reportedly avoid explicit numeric caps on Ukraine's armed forces.

International reaction

The UK, Germany and France immediately rejected central elements of the draft and are assisting Kyiv in preparing a counter-proposal. EU officials warned that any settlement must include Ukraine and Europe at the table; Kaja Kallas stressed that while everyone wants an end to the war, how it ends matters and Russia has no legal claim to Ukrainian territory.

Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink called the plan a "disaster," arguing it would reward aggression and weaken long-term U.S. and European security. British opposition figures and other Western commentators described portions of the draft as tantamount to capitulation to Russia.

Russia’s stance

Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia had received the proposal and said it could form the basis for a final settlement, while warning Moscow might seize more territory if Kyiv rejects the draft. Russian claims of rapid territorial gains in areas such as Kupiansk have been disputed by Ukrainian officials and independent observers.

Financial and security guarantees

The draft touches on frozen Russian assets and reportedly proposes channeling funds into investment arrangements; that conflicts with an EU plan to use around €140bn in frozen assets as a reparations loan to Ukraine. Separately, one draft proposes a NATO-style security guarantee — a potential coalition response to any "significant, deliberate and sustained" future Russian attack — though that sits uneasily with clauses reportedly banning NATO troop deployments in Ukraine.

On-the-ground context

Fighting and Russian strikes continue. A recent missile and drone attack on the western city of Ternopil killed dozens and wounded many, underlining the urgency Kyiv cites in negotiations. Ukrainian electronic warfare teams also claim successes against advanced Russian missiles, highlighting continued military resilience even as diplomacy intensifies.

Who drafted the plan

Reports name Steve Witkoff as a U.S. negotiator and Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund and a close Putin associate, as a Russian-side interlocutor. Kyiv’s national security adviser Rustem Umerov denied approving or altering draft clauses and said his role had been logistical.

What happens next

European leaders agreed to coordinate on a common approach, including meetings on the margins of the G20. Kyiv’s decision will likely depend on battlefield realities: if Ukrainian leaders judge they can hold, they are expected to reject a deal that locks in territorial losses; if they judge collapse is imminent, they may accept a modified settlement. For now, Zelensky has framed the U.S. draft as a starting point only if it can be reshaped into a just and lasting peace.

Bottom line: The diplomatic fight centers on territorial concessions, NATO membership guarantees, the use of frozen Russian assets, and whether Western security commitments would be credible and enforceable in the long term.