Trump pressures Zelenskyy with new plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump’s rollout of a sweeping 28-point plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war has reignited tensions between Washington and Kyiv, placing new pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a moment when his government is strained by scandal, battlefield setbacks, and a looming winter of renewed Russian attacks. Trump has argued that Ukraine no longer has the leverage to continue fighting and must instead accept a settlement that includes major concessions to Moscow, including surrendering the eastern Donbas region, reducing the size of Ukraine’s military, and accepting Europe’s declaration that Ukraine will never join NATO. While Trump has publicly insisted that Zelenskyy “doesn’t have the cards,” he has also said he expects the Ukrainian leader to respond to the plan by next Thursday — a timeline that underscores the mounting diplomatic pressure facing Kyiv.
The relationship between the two leaders has long been hostile, dating back to Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, when he attempted to pressure Zelenskyy into investigating Joe Biden. Since returning to the office, Trump has repeatedly criticized Ukraine’s use of U.S. aid, berated Zelenskyy in an Oval Office confrontation earlier this year, and briefly suspended American assistance. Now, his new peace proposal — delivered in Kyiv by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll — has raised alarms among lawmakers who fear Trump is advancing terms closely aligned with Moscow’s interests. Although the State Department has insisted the plan was drafted in Washington, confusion inside the administration has fueled skepticism about its origins and goals. U.S. officials present at the meeting said Ukraine appeared to view the proposal as only an initial draft, but Trump’s willingness to negotiate further remains unclear.
Complicating the moment for Kyiv is an unfolding corruption scandal involving $100 million in kickbacks tied to the state nuclear energy company, which has triggered multiple resignations and weakened Zelenskyy’s political standing. Analysts say Trump is exploiting that vulnerability, along with Ukraine’s worsening battlefield situation, to force Zelenskyy into accepting terms that would be nearly impossible to sell to the Ukrainian public. One element of the proposal calls for national elections within 100 days of its enactment, which critics say could destabilize Ukraine further. Trump has also suggested that if Zelenskyy rejects the plan, Ukraine may simply have to keep fighting “his little heart out,” a remark underscoring the administration’s impatience.
Meanwhile, the war continues to strain Ukraine’s defenses and economy. Russian missile and drone attacks have battered the country’s power grid, causing rolling blackouts ahead of winter. Questions also surround future European funding tied to frozen Russian assets, leaving Kyiv uncertain about its long-term financial support. Analysts warn that aspects of Trump’s proposal — including language requiring both countries to eliminate “Nazi ideology,” a framing that echoes the Kremlin’s false justification for the 2022 invasion — would deeply damage Ukrainian morale and national identity. They note that agreeing to sweeping territorial, military, and cultural concessions could irreparably undermine Zelenskyy’s presidency. As one expert put it, the plan demands sacrifices so severe that Zelenskyy may not be able to “look his public in the eye again” if he accepts them.
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