Trump’s Plan to End Russia-Ukraine War—Zelensky’s Response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a filmed public address on Friday said his country has been met with “one of the most difficult moments” in its history as it faces a “choice” between losing its dignity or a key partner, the United States.

Zelensky’s comments come as President Donald Trump has given him a deadline to respond to his Administration’s 28-point proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking to Fox News Radio, Trump said Zelensky has until the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday—Nov. 27—to provide an answer to his peace plan, citing this as “an appropriate [amount of] time.” He said that an extension may well be granted, if talks are “going well.”

The widely-leaked plan, unveiled on Thursday, is said to propose Kyiv reduce its army and make land concessions—something Ukraine has previously staunchly ruled out as a possibility. In his interview with Fox on Friday morning, Trump argued that Ukraine is already “losing land” and would likely lose that land “in a short period of time” anyway, if the conflict were to continue.

“We’re in it for one thing, we want the killing to stop… It’s a bloodbath,” said Trump of the war, which was triggered when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Meanwhile, Zelensky—who has, at times, shared a contentious history with Trump—said he is determined to find a way to “work calmly with America and all partners.”

Emphasizing that he won’t betray his country’s national interests, Zelensky said he will be “making arguments… offering alternatives” as he aims to lead a “constructive search for solutions.”

He also reminded the public of the oath he took upon being sworn in as Ukraine’s leader in 2019: “I, Volodymyr Zelensky, elected by the will of the people as the President of Ukraine, undertake to defend the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine with all my actions, uphold the rights and freedoms of citizens.”

Later on Friday, Zelensky said he had spent almost an hour speaking with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and…