28-point plan of the USA
US President Trump is increasing the pressure: President Zelenskyy is expected to approve the US 28-point plan by Thursday, which demands major concessions from Ukraine. Zelenskyy speaks of"one of the most difficult moments" in the country's history.
US President Donald Trump expects Ukraine to substantially accept the plan presented by the United States to end the war of aggression against Ukraine by next Thursday."Thursday is, in our opinion, a suitable time," Trump said in an interview with Fox News Radio when asked if the US had given Ukraine a "relaxed deadline" to agree to the plan.
The US president said the deadline could be extended to negotiate the exact terms. If"things go well," there could be a tendency to extend the deadline, the Republican said."But Thursday is the deadline," he emphasized.
According to the Washington Post, the deadline comes with a threat: Should Ukraine resist the plan, it would face the loss of US support, the newspaper reported, citing several people familiar with the matter. Reuters news agency had previously reported on this threat as well.
US Plan to End the War in Ukraine Michael Grytz, WDR, tagesschau24, November 21, 2025, 5:00 PM
"One of the most difficult moments in history"
In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made clear the difficult situation his country is in because of the US plan."Ukraine could be facing a very difficult choice right now: either lose its dignity or risk losing its key partner," the president said. He prepared Ukrainians for"one of the most difficult moments in our country's history."
The country faces a choice: either to implement the "difficult 28 points" of the US plan or to "experience an extremely difficult winter," said the Ukrainian president.
Zelenskyy will present"alternatives".
Zelenskyy announced that he would present alternatives to the US-proposed plan for ending Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. He said that work on every point of the plan would continue around the clock in the coming days.
The Ukrainian president later confirmed that he had discussed the plan in a nearly hour-long conversation with US Vice President J.D. Vance."We agreed that we will work together with America and Europe at the consultative level to have a truly workable path to peace," Zelenskyy wrote.
He had previously stated that Ukraine would work on the draft agreement from the US together with Germany, France, and Great Britain. The heads of state and government of the four countries had discussed it in a joint telephone call."In particular, they welcomed the commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and the willingness to provide Ukraine with solid security guarantees," the German government subsequently stated regarding the US proposals. However, the Europeans made it clear that an agreement could only be reached if they were on board.
Europeans want to protect their interests
According to the German government, the agreed goal was"to safeguard vital European and Ukrainian interests in the long term." This includes the contact line being the starting point for any understanding, and the Ukrainian armed forces remaining capable of effectively defending Ukraine's sovereignty.
The US proposal primarily envisages Ukrainian concessions to Russia, including territorial concessions, a withdrawal of Kyiv's troops from parts of eastern Ukraine, restrictions on the army, and a legally binding renunciation of NATO membership.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas made it clear that the European Union's support for the peace plan is conditional. Such a plan must bring about a lasting and just peace and include both Ukraine and the EU, Kallas said. Any plan can only work if Ukraine and the Europeans are on board, she explained.
Ukraine would have to give up two regions
Several US media outlets, including the news portal Axios, leaked a draft of a 28-point plan from the United States, which calls for, among other things, the cession of large areas of eastern Ukraine to Russia and new elections in Ukraine. The plan demands that Ukraine cede the annexed Crimean Peninsula and the Luhansk and Donetsk regions to Russia.
According to the plan, the two regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, which are partially controlled by Russia, would be divided along the current front line. Furthermore, Ukraine would enshrine a commitment to not joining NATO in its constitution. NATO would be obligated not to admit Ukraine in the future and not to station troops in the country.
Furthermore, the plan envisions reducing and limiting the Ukrainian army to 600,000 soldiers. In return, Ukraine would receive"reliable security guarantees." EU membership is also theoretically open to Ukraine.
