Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed on Friday that he would “not betray Ukraine,” even as Washington presses Kyiv to accept a controversial U.S.-drafted peace framework that Ukrainian officials say amounts to capitulation to Moscow. Under intense time pressure, the Biden administration is demanding an answer by Thursday, though officials have hinted the deadline may be extended.
Kyiv has reacted with shock to the 28-point proposal, which would force Ukraine to cede additional territory, reduce the size of its army, renounce NATO membership and hold national elections within 100 days. Several senior Ukrainian officials, speaking privately, said they were “mind-blown” by what they view as a coerced settlement aligned with the Kremlin’s long-standing demands.
“This is one of the most difficult moments in our history,” Zelensky said in a somber video address. “Ukraine faces a critical choice, either lose its dignity or risk losing a key partner.” He pledged to work with the United States on the proposal but indicated he would present alternatives in the coming days.
A Draft that Tilts Toward Moscow
The framework circulating in Kyiv and Western diplomatic circles appears to grant Russia sweeping concessions. Washington’s draft envisions recognizing Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk as de facto Russian territory and requiring Ukrainian forces to withdraw from parts of Donetsk they still control. In the south, the front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson would be frozen, leaving Kyiv with no path to reclaim occupied territory.
In return, Ukraine would receive unspecified “security guarantees,” while agreeing to cut its armed forces from roughly 900,000 to 600,000 troops and permanently enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO. Long-range missiles capable of striking Moscow or St. Petersburg would be prohibited.
Economic provisions also tilt heavily toward Russia. The plan calls for lifting Western sanctions, allowing Moscow to rejoin the G8, and reintegrating its economy into global markets. Meanwhile, $100 billion in Russian frozen assets would be allocated to U.S.-led reconstruction projects in Ukraine, with Europe contributing an equal amount. American firms would receive half of all profits from rebuilding contracts. Russia, the draft says, would also cooperate with the United States on rare-earth extraction projects in the Arctic.
One European official familiar with the discussions described the document as “very concerning” and “comfortable for Putin.” Another warned that a bad deal for Ukraine would threaten broader European security.
Allies Express Support, but Also Alarm
European leaders have sought a delicate balance: reassuring Zelensky while avoiding a rupture with Washington. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a joint call with Zelensky, reaffirming their “full and unchanged support” for a just and lasting peace that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty. Their statements were notably cautious, underscoring European unease with a process in which they were not fully consulted.
“Peace cannot be a capitulation,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Thursday. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed that any agreement must involve Kyiv and Europe, adding, “There is one aggressor and one victim; we have not heard any concessions on the Russian side.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the proposal would be discussed informally at the G20 summit in South Africa. “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” she said, signaling frustration that the text had not been formally presented to Brussels.
Washington Applies Pressure Amid Battlefield Strains
Behind closed doors, U.S. officials have warned Kyiv that military and intelligence support could be curtailed if Ukraine rejects the framework. According to Ukrainian sources, the Biden administration wants Zelensky to sign the outline before Thanksgiving, a timeline Kyiv considers unrealistic and politically fraught.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the draft Thursday, calling it “a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine.” U.S. negotiators, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been shuttling between the two sides. Rubio argued that “durable peace will require difficult but necessary concessions.”
Zelensky said he plans to speak with the U.S. president soon, though it remains unclear whether Kyiv will accept any version of the proposal. “I will persuade, I will propose alternatives,” he said. “We did not betray Ukraine in 2022; we will not do so now.”
Russian Advances and Domestic Strains Deepen Kyiv’s Peril
The diplomatic crisis comes as Russia intensifies its military offensive. Moscow’s forces have made incremental gains in the east and south while launching near-daily missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s energy and transport infrastructure. A strike on Zaporizhzhia on Thursday killed five people; another attack in Ternopil earlier in the week killed at least 26, including children.
Ukraine’s position is weakened by mounting domestic challenges. A sweeping corruption scandal led parliament to dismiss the energy and justice ministers this week. At the same time, Ukrainian officials acknowledge a manpower crisis: tens of thousands of draftees have fled training centers, and October saw a record 21,000 deserters.
“Feeling mind-blown has become our norm,” one senior official said, describing the shock within Kyiv’s political and military establishment.
Kyiv’s Red Lines Remain Firm
Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and the top negotiator, reiterated that Ukraine will reject any settlement that violates its sovereignty. “There can be no decisions outside our red lines now or ever,” he said.
Zelensky held talks in Ankara this week with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an effort to coordinate a response and discuss an alternative peace framework shaped by EU partners, a proposal the U.S. reportedly views as unacceptable to Moscow.
Despite the pressure campaign, Kyiv insists it will not be rushed into accepting terms it views as surrender. “Ukraine’s national interest must be taken into account,” Zelensky said. “We will calmly work with America and our partners.”
As diplomats race against the Thursday deadline, the stakes could not be higher. Russia controls about 19 percent of Ukrainian territory and continues to press on multiple fronts. Whether the United States, Europe and Ukraine can align around a single strategy or whether Washington’s plan fractures the coalition may determine the trajectory of the war.
