Kyiv, Ukraine
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Ukraine is at “one of the most difficult moments” of its history, the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, as a proposal to end the fighting drafted by the United States puts pressure on Kyiv to cede territory, limit the size of its military and promise not to join NATO in exchange for an end to the war.
“The pressure on Ukraine is now at its most intense. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner, or 28 difficult points, or an extremely harsh winter,” Zelensky said in his daily video address, referencing the 28-point plan put forward by US President Donald Trump.
“The most difficult and further risks are life without freedom, without dignity, without justice, and believing someone who has already attacked us twice,” he continued.
Ukraine will “work calmly” and quickly with the US and its partners towards an end to the war, Zelensky said.
A number of European leaders have spoken out in support of Ukraine since the details of Trump’s proposal were released, vowing to stand by Kyiv and insisting that no decisions should be made about the fate of the country without its input.
“I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will offer alternatives, but we will definitely not give the enemy any reason to say that Ukraine does not want peace, that it is disrupting the process, and that Ukraine is not ready for diplomacy,” Zelensky continued.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
