Trump: Zelenskyy must accept US peace plan to end war in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump said on November 21 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will ultimately have to accept and endorse a U.S.-supported peace proposal aimed at stopping Russia’s invasion.

Trump made the remarks to reporters in the Oval Office following a meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, according to Reuters.

Trump reiterated that he had expected to bring the conflict to an end much earlier, citing what he described as a strong personal rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It does take two to tango,” he added.

He emphasised that the onset of winter, the rising number of casualties, and the continued Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure all highlight the need for a swift resolution to the war.

“We have a plan. It’s horrible what’s happening,” Trump said. “We have a way of getting peace, or we think we have a way of getting to peace. He’s going to have to approve it,” he added, referring to Zelenskyy.

According to a draft reviewed by Reuters, Washington’s 28-point plan requires Ukraine to give up territory, accept restrictions on its military capabilities, and abandon its ambitions to join NATO. The document also includes provisions that Moscow may reject, including demands that Russian forces withdraw from certain areas they have seized.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly refused to compromise on Moscow’s core territorial and security conditions, said on Friday that the U.S. proposal could serve as a foundation for a final settlement of the nearly four-year war. He claimed Kyiv opposes the plan and argued that neither Ukraine nor its European partners recognise the reality of Russia’s battlefield gains.

Zelenskyy cautioned on Friday that Ukraine may lose its dignity, freedom, or even Washington’s support if it accepts a U.S. peace plan that reflects key Russian demands.

When asked about Zelenskyy’s concerns, Trump said he had already warned the Ukrainian president during a February Oval Office meeting that he did not “have the cards” to end the conflict strictly on his own terms.

“At some point, he’s going to have to accept something he hasn’t accepted,” Trump said. “I thought he should have made a deal a year ago, two years ago. The ultimate deal would have been if it never started.”

By Tamilla Hasanova