Zelenskyy warns Ukraine faces ‘difficult choice’ as US peace plan hits major hurdle

A U.S.-backed model to extremity the Ukraine warfare — assembled by peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff, with input done some Kyiv and Moscow channels — is stirring unease among European allies and putting caller unit connected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy, who has ruled retired recognizing Russian sovereignty implicit Ukrainian land, said helium volition enactment "calmly" with America." This is 1 of the astir hard moments successful our history," Zelenskyy said successful a video code to the nation. "Currently, the unit connected Ukraine is 1 of the hardest. Ukraine whitethorn present look a precise hard choice, either losing its dignity oregon the hazard of losing a cardinal partner," helium said according to a study successful the Associated Press 

According to aggregate outlets, a moving draught would necessitate Kyiv to cede the eastbound Donbas portion to Russia, bounds long-range Western strikes wrong Russia, and headdress Ukraine’s equipped forces astatine astir 600,000 troops.

The White House says Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio person been "quietly working" connected the program and engaging some sides. President Donald Trump has been briefed and supports pushing to finalize the model by the holidays. 

WITKOFF MEETS UKRAINE OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK AHEAD OF EMERGENCY UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING: 'VERY PRODUCTIVE'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by US President Donald Trump (L) upon accomplishment astatine the White House West Wing successful Washington, DC, connected August 18, 2025. President Zelenskyy said contiguous (Friday) Ukraine and the United States would "work connected the provisions of the plan" and are acceptable for "constructive, honorable and swift work." (Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynold / AFP via Getty Images))

Zelenskyy is preparing for a telephone with Trump and spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, arsenic European leaders scramble to measure the proposal’s implications, aft helium held a telephone with U.S. Vice President Vance, root says.

Ukraine has formally received the document. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States would "work connected the provisions of the plan," and that Kyiv is acceptable for "constructive, honorable and swift work." He has repeatedly ruled retired recognizing Russian sovereignty implicit immoderate Ukrainian territory, saying earlier determination tin beryllium "no reward for waging war."

"We are moving to guarantee that Ukraine’s nationalist interests are taken into relationship astatine each level of our relations with partners," Zelenskyy posted Friday connected X, formerly known arsenic Twitter.

A Ukrainian root told Fox News Digital that Kyiv’s reddish lines see limits connected NATO membership, territorial concessions and unit cuts. The erstwhile elder Ukrainian authoritative called the draft’s presumption "political suicide" that would permission Zelenskyy liable "for the nonaccomplishment of astir one-fifth of Ukraine."

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Washington and Moscow are not yet discussing the proposals successful detail, but that contacts were taking place. "There are definite ideas connected the American side, but thing substantive is presently being discussed. We are wholly unfastened — we support our openness to bid negotiations," Peskov told reporters.

ZELENSKYY SEEKS 'STRONG REACTION' FROM US IF PUTIN IS NOT READY FOR BILATERAL MEETING

President Donald Trump walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin arsenic they get astatine Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Aug. 15, 2025, successful Anchorage, Alaska. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said contiguous (Friday) Russia has "not received thing officially" from Washington connected the 28-point plan. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz pressed for urgency during a Security Council briefing Thursday, saying diplomacy is "the lone way to a durable and conscionable peace." Waltz said Washington has "proposed generous presumption for Russia, including sanctions relief," and vowed that "under President Trump’s leadership, the United States volition proceed to prosecute a way to bid successful Ukraine."

Ukraine’s Deputy Representative to the United Nations, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, pushed backmost firmly during Thursday’s Security Council meeting, declaring that Kyiv would cull immoderate colony that compromises its sovereignty. "There volition ne'er beryllium immoderate recognition, ceremonial oregon otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation arsenic Russian. Our onshore is not for sale," she said. Hayovyshyn stressed that "Ukraine volition not judge immoderate limits connected its close to self-defense oregon connected the size and capabilities of our equipped forces, nor volition we tolerate immoderate infringement connected our sovereignty, including our sovereign close to take the alliances we privation to join."

European leaders were reportedly caught disconnected defender by the proposals, with the Associated Press reporting the leaders of Germany, France and the U.K. spoke with Zelenskyy Friday to reaffirm their "unchanged and afloat enactment connected the mode to a lasting and conscionable peace" arsenic diplomats scrambled to parse a U.S. connection galore archetypal learned astir done the media. Bild said Merz canceled a home quality to clasp situation calls with some Zelenskyy and Trump.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Firefighters enactment connected the tract of a burning gathering aft a Russian onslaught successful Kyiv, Ukraine, aboriginal Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Zelenskyy is expected to talk with Trump successful the coming days to sermon the plan’s halfway points and Ukraine’s reddish lines.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.