Zelensky: Russia "Must Pay Fully" — Kyiv Rejects Territorial Concessions as U.S.-Draft Peace Framework Is Refined

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday insisted any peace settlement must require the aggressor to pay for the damage caused by Russia's 2022 invasion, and he reiterated that Ukraine will not cede territory to secure a deal. In a video address to the Swedish parliament, Zelensky said decisions on frozen Russian assets should be central to any plan.

Geneva talks produce a revised framework

Ukrainian and U.S. officials said weekend talks in Geneva produced "meaningful progress toward aligning positions" and that an updated, refined peace framework has been drafted. A joint statement from the delegations thanked U.S. leadership for its efforts and said the parties would continue intensive negotiations while coordinating with European partners.

"The aggressor must pay fully for the war he started, and this is why decisions on Russian assets are essential," Zelensky said, reaffirming his rejection of land concessions.

Russia says it has not received the revised proposal

The Kremlin said it had not been officially informed about any revised proposal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was monitoring media reports about the Geneva talks but had not received formal documentation.

European reactions are split

European leaders voiced mixed responses. Germany's foreign minister called the Geneva talks a success for Europe, saying references to Europe- and NATO-related issues had been removed from the plan and stressing that any agreement must not be made over the heads of Europeans or Ukrainians. Finland's prime minister described steps toward a just and lasting peace while noting unresolved questions remain.

By contrast, Hungary urged immediate and full acceptance of the existing proposal, calling it a major chance to end the war and urging European leaders to support the plan unconditionally.

Author of the leaked 28-point draft in dispute

Questions persist about the origins of a widely leaked 28-point draft that circulated last week and provoked intense controversy. Some U.S. senators suggested the document reflected heavy Russian input: Sen. Mike Rounds said the draft "looked more like it was written in Russian to begin with," while Sen. Angus King said he had been told it was a Russian "wish list." Sen. Marco Rubio rejected those characterizations, saying the proposal was authored by the U.S. as a framework informed by input from both sides.

Political pressure and deadlines

Former President Donald J. Trump has been vocal in the debate, criticizing Ukrainian leadership and posting on social media that Ukraine has shown "zero gratitude" for U.S. efforts. Trump set a public deadline for Zelensky to respond to the proposal by the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, Nov. 27, while suggesting an extension could be granted if talks progress.

Contents and consequences of the leaked draft

The leaked draft — which preceded the reported refinements — proposed major military and territorial compromises that Ukrainian leaders and many international analysts regard as unacceptable. It suggested de facto recognition of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk as Russian-held and proposed freezing Kherson and Zaporizhzhia along current lines of contact. One particularly contentious idea would see Ukrainian forces withdraw from parts of Donetsk under Ukrainian control and treat that area as a neutral, demilitarized buffer zone internationally recognized as belonging to Russia, while forbidding Russian forces to enter the buffer.

Analysts warn those concessions carry major strategic risks. George Barros, senior analyst for Russia and geospatial intelligence at the Institute for the Study of War, said Donetsk contains some of Ukraine's strongest fortifications and that ceding it diplomatically would give Russia a potential gateway toward central Ukraine. ISW estimates — which have not been independently verified — suggested Russian forces could require hundreds of days to capture remaining Ukrainian-held Donetsk territory by force, a timeline that analysts caution could vary significantly.

Charles Kupchan of the Council on Foreign Relations noted Donbas's economic and strategic value and warned that territorial concessions would align with President Vladimir Putin's long-standing aim to reincorporate those regions. Natia Seskuria of the Royal United Services Institute said recognizing de facto Russian control over Donbas would accomplish aspects of Moscow's plan and leave Ukraine more vulnerable to future offensives.

What comes next

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators say they will continue to refine a framework for a negotiated settlement while remaining in close contact with European partners. Kyiv faces a high-stakes choice between protecting territorial integrity and managing diplomatic pressure to pursue a settlement that could reduce further bloodshed. The details of the revised proposal have not been publicly disclosed, and the international debate over what concessions — if any — are acceptable is likely to continue.