Zelensky Warns of “Painful Choice” as US Peace Plan Sparks Alarm in Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday acknowledged that Kyiv is facing one of the most difficult moments in its history as it weighs a contentious US peace proposal that echoes several long-standing Russian demands. In a national video address, he said Ukraine may be forced to choose between “losing its dignity” or risking the loss of a key ally.

Zelensky said Kyiv would work “calmly and constructively” with Washington and other partners. Earlier, he held calls with the leaders of Germany, France, and the UK, who pledged unwavering support as European capitals scrambled to make sense of US proposals that appeared to catch them off guard.

The plan reportedly includes Ukrainian territorial concessions, limits on Ukraine’s military, and restrictions that could block NATO membership—terms Zelensky has consistently rejected. European leaders, wary of provoking US President Donald Trump, issued carefully worded responses praising American efforts but reaffirming the principle of a “just and lasting peace.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelensky of their “unchanged and full support” and insisted any deal must allow Ukraine to continue defending its sovereignty. Starmer stressed that Ukraine’s right to determine its own future “is a fundamental principle.”

Europe Sees an Existential Stakes

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Russia’s invasion poses “an existential threat to Europe,” stressing that only Ukraine can decide the terms of peace and that Moscow has “no legal right whatsoever” to territorial concessions.

European officials privately described elements of the US plan as “quite concerning,” saying a bad deal for Ukraine would endanger wider European security. EU leaders including Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said they were not formally informed of the proposal.

Kyiv Reviews Proposal as Washington Pushes Forward

Zelensky said he would speak with Trump in the coming days and that Ukraine was “carefully coordinating” with allies to ensure its core principles—sovereignty, security, and a just peace—are upheld. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov disputed claims that he had endorsed most of the plan, saying Kyiv is still reviewing the document and expects partners to respect Ukraine’s position.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, said Moscow has not officially received the proposal and claimed that no “substantive” US-Russia discussions are underway.

Russian Attacks Continue Across Ukraine

As diplomacy intensified, Russia launched a series of deadly strikes on Ukrainian cities. A glide bomb hit a residential area in Zaporizhzhia, killing five and injuring ten, including a teenage girl. The blast damaged several apartment buildings and a local market.

In Odesa, a Russian drone attack injured five people, including a 16-year-old boy. The strikes follow Wednesday’s devastating drone-missile barrage on Ternopil, which killed 31 people—six of them children—and injured at least 94. Thirteen people remain missing as emergency crews search the rubble.