Trump emissaries press Zelenskyy for rapid answer on peace plan
US President Donald Trump's emissaries have set a tight deadline for Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy to present his position on the updated US peace plan within days, officials involved in the negotiations told the Financial Times, as reported by The Moscow Times.
One source mentioned that Trump hopes a deal will be concluded "by Christmas."
Zelenskyy said that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner pressured him during a two-hour phone call on Saturday, demanding a rapid decision.
According to the sources, the Ukrainian president told the American envoys that he requires time to consult with his European allies before he can respond to the Trump proposal. Zelenskyy previously indicated the Ukrainian delegation would present the Americans with a new, 20-point version of the peace plan, set for submission on Wednesday, December 10.
"Trump has his own vision, which is different from Ukraine's," he added.
A Western official told the Financial Times that Ukraine is currently caught between what it considers unacceptable territorial demands and the necessity of accommodating the United States' position. "Honestly, the Americans are now seeking a compromise," Zelenskyy noted.
He explained that three documents are being drafted simultaneously: the general 20-point framework, "which is constantly changing," security guarantees, and Ukraine's reconstruction plan. This latter document, he specified, will only come into effect "when the war ends or a ceasefire is announced."
The Kyiv leader firmly reiterated that Ukraine will not make territorial concessions to Russia, which is demanding control over the part of the Donbas region in Eastern Ukraine it has not yet occupied.
"We have no legal right to do this—neither according to Ukrainian legislation, nor our Constitution, nor international law. And we have no moral right either," Zelenskyy declared.
On December 8, Zelenskyy visited London, meeting with the leaders of Great Britain, France, and Germany - Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Friedrich Merz - to discuss the US-proposed plan and finalize the new Ukrainian version.
Trump, for his part, stated that Zelenskyy must be constructive and accept reality, arguing that "he is losing," and Russia "is in a stronger negotiating position."
"It has an advantage and it always has. It is a bigger, stronger country. I appreciate Ukraine, its people, and its army for their courage and determination. But, you know, at some point, force usually prevails," Trump told Politico in an interview.
The US President also criticized European leaders' approach to Ukraine: "They are doing poorly... They talk too much, but they do nothing. And the war continues."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
