VOLODYMYR Zelensky and Europe have offered a shaky response to Donald Trump’s peace plan as the US warned Ukraine must sign the deal by Thursday – or have weapons “cut”.
Sources close to the situation said that Kyiv was under greater pressure from Washington than during any previous peace discussions.
In a post on X, the Ukrainian president said he had had a call with Sir Keir, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in which they “discussed the plan for peace for Ukraine and all of Europe“.
He said: “We value the efforts of the United States, President Trump, and his team aimed at ending this war.
“We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace.
“We are co-ordinating closely to make sure that the principled stances are taken into account. We co-ordinated the next steps and agreed that our teams will work together at the corresponding levels.”
PEACE PANIC
Zelensky & Europe give nervy response to Trump peace plan as US gives deadline
Zelensky added he is working to ensure Ukraine’s national interest is taken into account in the peace plan.
It comes as Trump threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons supplies for Ukraine if it does not agree to the proposals.
The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Kyiv was under greater pressure from Washington than during any previous peace discussions.
They want to stop the war and want Ukraine to pay the price, one of the sources said.
The U.S. ambassador in Ukraine and the army public affairs chief said on Thursday Washington sought an “aggressive timeline” for Zelensky to approve the plans.
The 28-point-planwhich was dubbed a “surrender” to the Kremlin by European leaders, includes Ukraine halving its military.
It also involves welcoming the Russian tyrant back into the G7 – making it the G8.
The UK has so far not spoken out about the proposals – something sources in Ukraine have been heavily critical of.
For peace, the plan demands Ukraine cuts the size of its army to just 600,000 and gets rid of any missiles its been using against Russia.
Kyiv will not be allowed to reclaim land annexed by the tyrant nor will it be able to invade Russia.
Under the plan, Ukraine will also not be allowed to host Nato troops and foreign fighter jets – which it has relied on heavily during the war.
These will be forced to be stationed in Poland.
This would prove a massive blow to Zelensky, who recently signed a deal with France to purchase the impressive Rafale jets.
If Ukraine breaches any of the conditions, it will forfeit certain security guarantees from the US and Europe.
In one of the more controversial proposals, Russia will be handed all of the Donbas region and Crimea, which will become recognised as de facto.
The plan says: “Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognised as de facto Russian, including by the United States.
“Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact.”
Europe will lift its sanctions on Russia and return all of its frozen assets, except $100 billion (£77 billion) which will be used for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Moscow will be given about two-thirds of the £265 billion seized internationally.
In turn, Russia will suffer military action and new sanctions if it attacks Ukraine again.
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The proposal states: “The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas.
“This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict.”