Ukrainian leaders are increasingly uneasy as Washington pushes an accelerated peace plan that appears to favour several long-standing Kremlin demands. Despite this, President Volodymyr Zelensky has avoided criticising the proposal publicly, striking a cautious tone in his nightly address. He emphasised that Ukraine seeks peace, will engage in diplomacy, and will refrain from “rash statements,” stressing readiness for “constructive, honest and efficient work.”
Behind the restraint, however, lies deep anxiety in Kyiv. The reported terms include forfeiting the entire Donbas region, slashing Ukraine’s military strength, and prohibiting any international forces from being stationed in the country—concessions Ukraine has repeatedly rejected. One Ukrainian lawmaker warned that the US appears to be pursuing “quick peace at the expense of one side,” viewing Ukraine as the weaker party.
A series of recent setbacks has only added to Kyiv’s vulnerability. Russian forces have advanced further in the east. Long-range strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid have triggered sweeping power outages across the country. At the same time, allegations of major corruption within the Ukrainian government have ignited political turmoil, distracting officials from wartime priorities. Both Washington and Moscow are watching these developments closely.
US officials, meanwhile, argue that any peace will require difficult compromises from both countries. The draft circulating in the media includes vague promises of “reliable security guarantees” for Ukraine and suggests that frozen Russian assets could be used to rebuild the country. While it rejects Ukraine’s future membership in the Nato alliance, it does not block its path to joining the European Union.
What is striking is Europe’s limited role. The proposal makes no mention of UK-French efforts to form a reassurance force for Ukraine should a ceasefire occur. In fact, it explicitly rules out foreign troops, further sidelining European influence. European leaders are now pushing to ensure their voices are heard as the terms evolve.
Read Also: US “Operation Charlotte’s Web” On Widespread Immigration Raids
But time is running out. The team behind the plan—working with President Donald Trump’s approval—is operating on an aggressive schedule measured in weeks, not months, and is preparing to engage with Moscow soon. Hopes of securing a face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Zelensky have quietly faded.
Trump, who has long claimed he could quickly end the war, appears to be losing patience. For Kyiv, the risk is increasingly clear: a rushed agreement could lock in painful concessions before Ukraine has any real chance to resist them.