WSJ: Trump urges EU leaders to pressure Zelenskyy to accept US peace plan

US President Donald Trump, in conversations with European leaders, urged them to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into accepting the American peace proposal.

Trump told the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom that they should push the Ukrainian president to accept the plan, under which Ukraine would agree to significant territorial losses and limit the size of its armed forces, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports, citing sources.

Trump reiterated his earlier criticism that Zelenskyy had not reviewed the initial US peace proposal and offered little sign that he was willing to adjust Washington’s terms.

Zelenskyy has said Kyiv is coordinating with its US and European partners on three key documents — a 20-point peace framework, a package of security guarantees and long-term reconstruction plans.

Territorial issues and security guarantees remain the core obstacles for Ukraine. Zelenskyy continues to argue that Ukraine has neither the legal basis nor the moral justification to hand over land to Russia.

Moscow, for its part, is demanding a Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk, a region it has failed to seize entirely by force.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly noted that he cannot make unilateral decisions about Ukraine’s territorial integrity, insisting that any such choice must be approved by the Ukrainian people.

A poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in early autumn showed that 54% of Ukrainians opposed giving up territory even if it meant prolonging the war and risking national independence, while 38% were open to some territorial concessions.

By Jeyhun Aghazada