Trump: 'Kiev must accept plan by Thursday'. Zelensky: 'We may have to make hard choice'. Putin: 'Can be basis for end of war'

"We all appreciate the commitment of America and President Trump to end the war and work to ensure that this becomes a joint and fully aligned plan." This was written on X by the Ukrainian president after his telephone conversation with the presidents of the EU Commission and Council, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, who pointed out that he had been "briefed on the proposals of the US side for the end of the war and contacts with partners in Europe and the US". "Several meetings and telephone talks are already scheduled for the coming days," Zelensky adds, "The teams from Ukraine, the US and Europe will work together. The Ukrainian president concluded with thanks for 'your support and readiness to work in a coordinated and constructive manner'.

Donald Trump has no plans to lift sanctions against Russia. The president told Fox News. "I'm not going to do anything to lift sanctions," the US president said. Vladimir Putin "is not looking for another war" and is "already undergoing measures," he added.

For more: Why Trump's 'terrible sanctions' on Russia are not just a show

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Trump's plan for Ukraine 'can serve as a basis for ending the conflict.

More than a peace plan, it appears to be an unconditional surrender, a mere provocation. US President Donald Trump's plan to end a major conflict that has dragged on for four years is nothing more than a clumsy attempt aimed at a near-surrender of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should accept what seems unacceptable. For him, as head of state. For his fellow citizens. But also for his European allies. Beyond humiliating territorial concessions, the Kiev government is not only being asked to halve its army, but also to give up armaments capable of striking Russian territory and thus acting as a deterrent against Russian actions. Zelensky should also say no to a possible deployment of that international force to be deployed after the war, proposed by Emmanuel Macron.

Ukraine is already 'losing territory' and would probably lose more 'in a short space of time' if the war continued. This was said by Donald Trump, speaking on Fox Radio about his peace plan.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa heard Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. "From day one, Europe has stood by Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. We have worked for a just and sustainable peace with Ukraine and for Ukraine together with our friends and partners. Today we discussed the current situation and we are clear that there should be nothing on Ukraine without Ukraine. As next steps, European leaders will meet tomorrow on the sidelines of the G20 and then in Angola for the EU-African Union meeting,' they write in a joint post on X.

Donald Trump has confirmed media rumours that the deadline for Ukraine to accept his peace plan is next Thursday, 27 November Thanksgiving Day in America. To end the Russian war in the country 'Thursday is the day for us,' the president told Fox News.

Voldymyr Zelensky spoke with US Vice President Jd Vance with whom he discussed the US peace plan. This was reported to Axios by an informed source.

One hundred and twenty-five pages on the hybrid threat in all its manifestations (cyber attacks, disinformation, cognitive dimension), the call to prepare for "legitimate and timely reactions", and the call for a significant reinforcement of military personnel, "even of the order of 10-15 thousand units dedicated to the cyber, electromagnetic spectrum and new technologies sectors", with a robust operational branch capable of integrating into multi-domain operations.

In the non-paper illustrated yesterday at the Supreme Defence Council by Minister Guido Crosetto there is no room for half-measures: 'We are under attack and the hybrid bombs keep falling: the time to act is "now"'.

"The draft peace plan, not yet a plan, is not something that can be discussed outside, in the heat, in the light, but we should discuss it with the aggrieved population that should make the greatest sacrifice on the basis of this plan, such as the ceding of territories defended at the cost of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian victims in these more than three years of war. The right approach is one that involves those who have to make the most sacrifices. I am convinced that the United States intends to do this, Trump has accustomed us to his ability to throw his heart over the obstacle, to provocations from one side to the other; he has been very harsh in recent weeks towards Russia. The peace draft, which has come out informally, seems somewhat too harsh, apart from our comments, towards Ukraine." Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said this in a video link to the ongoing Initiative Europe Foundation Forum in Stresa. "I am convinced that it is all part of a strategy to arrive at a solution that somehow satisfies everyone. What is clear is that the US, like almost all European countries, and first and foremost the citizens and government of Ukraine would like this war to end and we start talking about reconstruction, both physical and moral. I hope that this,' he concludes, 'which I do not yet consider to be a formal act, is a step towards an attempt to really go for a truce. Russia is still missing, it has been months since the historic meeting between Trump and Putin: we are still at that point'.

"Those who today indulge the visceral fears of the Nordic countries by making people believe in the possibility of a Russian attack on a third country - even a NATO country - should better explain the reason for such a possible eventuality and possibly explain it with concrete, credible data, hinged on proven facts and circumstances and not on personal lucubrations based on intuitions unconnected to reality". This was stated to Adnkronos by General Leonardo Tricarico, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force and current president of the Icsa Foundation, regarding the hypotheses of those who fear a possible Russian attack on a NATO country. "And it is equally insufficient to justify this with Putin's imperialistic aims or with statements he has made here and there in public appearances in recent years. The facts say otherwise,' Tricarico emphasises, 'Russian military capabilities have proved to be poorer than even the experts assumed. 'After four years of conflict,' he adds, 'although sustained by a war economy, the Russian military instrument has gradually worn out to the point where its residual capabilities are considered rather meagre. 'The abandonment of Syria and Assad to their fate without even considering the idea of a minimum of support in the face of a band of terrorists should say a lot,' Tricarico continues, 'with what means and above all with what men could Putin venture even the slightest aggression against anyone? And what, moreover, makes one so confident that when cornered, Putin would not resort to the only intact resource, the nuclear one? Fuelling confusion today means assuming serious responsibilities, also because it means throwing petrol on a fire that is already too rampant, that of the anxieties and anxieties of the ex-Soviet countries that are always on the verge of exploding - concludes the president of the Icsa Foundation - Unless those who are putting such theories into circulation today are useful idiots, unwitting sounding boards for unfounded theses of Russian origin, or worse, conscious instruments of a propaganda war that is now as lethal as or more than a traditional weapon".

Leo XIV received this morning in the Apostolic Palace a group of mothers and wives of prisoners and teenagers forcibly taken to Russia and now returned home. The Pope, the Vatican media reported, reiterated that "everything possible" would be done to help them.

Volodymyr Zelensky, in a speech published by his office, recalled his oath of allegiance to Ukraine when he became president in 2019. "And every day, with your every word, I remain loyal to you. I will never betray her," he assured. "Ukraine's national interest must be taken into account. We do not make loud statements. We will work calmly with America and all partners," the president emphasised again, speaking about the US plan for peace, "I will present arguments, I will convince, I will offer alternatives, but we will certainly not give the enemy reason to say that it is Ukraine that does not want peace, that it is she who is disrupting the process and that Ukraine is not ready for diplomacy."

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in Johannesburg for the G20 in South Africa, spoke by telephone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for an initial exchange of views on the US peace proposal for Ukraine. During the conversation, Palazzo Chigi states, 'the importance of supporting the ongoing negotiation efforts was emphasised and the ultimate goal of achieving a just and lasting peace, in the interest of the whole of Europe, was reiterated. The reference to solid security guarantees, integral to the broader framework of European and transatlantic stability, in line with what Italy has long proposed, was welcomed. Other elements of the plan were considered worthy of further study'. Meloni's contacts with the main leaders interested in resolving the crisis - Palazzo Chigi concludes - will continue in the coming hours and tomorrow, also on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - A shower of selling on European defence stocks, which fell to their lowest levels since early September. In Milan, Leonardo - Finmeccanica is among the worst performers in the Ftse Mib, but outside the main basket also hurt Fincantieri and Avio. However, the sell-offs did not only hit Italian stocks: in Frankfurt, Renk, Hensoldt and Rheinmetall, Thales down in Paris, Bae Systems suffers in London and Saab falls in Stockholm. The European defence index moves down more than 3% after having risen more than 200% since Russia started the war against Ukraine in February 2022.

Penalising the sector are the new developments on the Ukrainian front after President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to work 'honestly' on a US-backed plan to end the war. For JP Morgan analysts, the plan is not acceptable to Ukraine or its European allies, and they called the recent selloff of defence companies an "interesting entry point" into the industry. "If the US succeeds in imposing this plan (which we think is unlikely), we think it would amount to a de facto victory for Russia, pushing European defence spending even higher than expected and at a much faster pace," they wrote.

"Now Ukraine may be faced with a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner," the Ukrainian president announced a few minutes ago on his Telegram channel in an address to the nation. "Ukrainians, Ukrainians, in the life of every nation there comes a time when everyone must speak honestly, calmly, without assumptions, rumours or gossip, without all that is superfluous, as it is, as I always try to speak to you. We are now in one of the most difficult moments in our history. Now the pressure on Ukraine is among the strongest. Now Ukraine could be faced with a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner,' Zelensky said. 'Either 28 complex points, or an extremely hard winter. The most difficult and with additional risks. A life without freedom, without dignity, without justice. And having to believe those who have already attacked twice," the Ukrainian president continued. "We will not make noisy statements, we will work calmly with America and all partners. There will be a constructive search for solutions with our main partner. I will bring arguments, I will convince, I will propose alternatives, but we will certainly not give the enemy reasons to say that Ukraine does not want peace, that it blocks the process and that it is not ready for diplomacy. It will not happen. Ukraine will work quickly. Today, Saturday and Sunday. Throughout the coming week. And for as long as it takes, in 24/7 mode,' Zelensky specified in his speech.

Russia is trying to prevent the implementation of US sanctions against its oil exports through the peace plan announced by Washington, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said today. "Today is the day when the US sanctions against Russia should come into force. I hope that the decision will not be taken to postpone them, because that is exactly what Russia wants," Kallas told reporters in Brussels.

The White House is pressuring Kiev to sign the 28-point plan to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia by Thanksgiving, warning that it will otherwise lose US support for the country. The Washington Post reports this, citing five sources familiar with the talks. The newspaper recalls that the US has launched the initiative to allow Ukraine to receive American weapons via European partners and continues to share crucial intelligence information for Kiev on the battlefield. According to the sources, Washington is now sending "signals" that all of this could come to an end if Kiev does not agree to sign the peace proposal quickly.

US President Donald Trump is aiming for peace in Ukraine with his plan, 'we must now work' on the basis of this text, but also 'reiterating the principle that matters: that the future of Ukraine is to be determined by Ukraine'. PM Keir Starmer told British journalists after the 4-way call with President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies Friderich Merz and Emmanuel Macron. "I know," he remarked, "what President Trump wants is what we all want. But the principle that Ukraine's future must be determined by Ukraine according to its sovereignty is a fundamental principle."

"Ukrainian police reported an explosion at one of the territorial recruitment centres in Odessa, with a death toll of at least one dead and one injured". This was reported by the Odessa region police, quoted by Ukrainska Pravda. Police and emergency services are working at the scene of the explosion, the same source added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz for their 'principled support for Ukraine and its people' at the end of a phone call in which they discussed the US 28-point plan. On his Telegram channel, Zelensky wrote that he and European leaders "appreciate" together "the efforts of the United States and President Trump to end the war", and said he was working on the US document. "The plan should ensure a true and decent peace," he continued, "taking into account Ukraine's principled positions. We have coordinated the next steps and agree to work together at the appropriate levels," he concluded.

Some of the sentences in the US peace plan for Ukraine appear to have been originally written in Russian. This is what the Guardian claims, according to which in several places, the text 'works' in Russian, but looks decidedly strange in English. One of the points, the newspaper writes, reads: 'It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries and that Nato will not expand further'. 'It is expected', the Guardian points out, is a cumbersome passive construction in English. The Russian version makes more sense and is a familiar verbal form. The text also highlights some 'Russianisms', such as terms like 'ambiguity' and 'sanction', used with a more binding meaning. The White House acknowledged that Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putin's envoy, wrote the proposal together with Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special representative. The two drafted the text during a meeting in Miami.

Ukraine is coming under intense pressure from Washington to accept the ;;framework of a US-brokered peace agreement with Russia, including threats to stop supplying intelligence and weapons: Reuters reports on its site citing two sources familiar with the matter. One of the sources, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the US wants Ukraine to sign part of the agreement by next Thursday, 27 November.

European leaders Merz, Macron and Starmer in the phone call with Zelensky say they 'will continue to pursue the goal of safeguarding vital European and Ukrainian interests in the long term', confirming their 'unwavering and full support for Ukraine towards a lasting and just peace'. This was stated in the account of the call, provided by the German government. The leaders 'welcomed the US efforts', including the proposals on Ukraine's sovereignty, on 'robust' security guarantees. But they reiterated that the current front line must serve 'as a starting point' for any territorial discussions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine. According to a source, the politicians are discussing a draft of a new peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. It is also reported that European leaders plan to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow at the G20 summit in South Africa to discuss the US peace plan.

"The German government supports all efforts that could lead to peace in Ukraine. In this sense, these efforts are also supported in principle by the United States. We also welcome and share the commitment to the sovereignty of the Ukrainians and the readiness of the Ukrainians to provide solid security guarantees." This was said by German Chancellor's spokesman Stefan Kornelius, answering questions at a press conference in Berlin on the 28-point peace plan presented by the US. "These are very important fundamental points contained in this document, which find our full support."

Trump plan or not, no decision on Ukraine's fate should go "beyond our red lines". So says Rustem Umjerov, secretary of the Kiev Security Council.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov issued an ultimatum to Ukraine's President Voloymyr Zelensky stating that for Kiev 'it is better to negotiate and do it now. Now, not later'. According to the Kremlin, the reality on the ground should push the Ukrainian president to negotiate now with Moscow. "His (Zelensky's, ed.) room for decision-making is shrinking as he loses territory during the offensive actions of the Russian armed forces," Peskov said. "The regime must make a responsible decision and do it now," the spokesman stressed.

Russia has not officially received any plans from the United States for the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today, commenting on the plan announced in the media. "There are many leaks in the media right now: discussions, points, plans. Some articles talk about a certain number of points, others about a different number.... Officially, the Russian side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is the established channel of communication with the US, has not received any such proposal or plan - absolutely nothing on this issue. We are open to dialogue,' Zakharova told reporters.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz cancelled appointments today to schedule some important phone calls with different parties on the war in Ukraine, in light of the peace plan. This is what Bild wrote, also citing separate talks with both Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. Spokesman Stefan Kornelius confirmed at a press conference in Berlin that there will be some phone calls, but explained that he could not anticipate them before they have been made.

The Ukrainian army denied that the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk had passed into Russian hands, while yesterday the Russian chief of staff told President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces had taken control of the centre. Reuters writes this on its website. Ukraine also rejected Russian claims that its forces had taken control of two other cities: Pokrovsk, a logistics hub it has been trying to conquer for months, and Vovchansk, near the Russian border. Putin had visited the command post of the 'West' grouping of the Russian forces, where he met with Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and the military leadership, the Kremlin reported earlier.

A phone call between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to take place today regarding the US and Russian plan to end the war. This was reported by the Ukrainian Interfax news agency.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump will hold a call next week. Sky News reports this, citing EU sources. "Before then, the Ukrainian president will consult the leaders of the UK, France, Italy and Germany on the issue," the British media adds.

"A 28-point plan was made public yesterday. We will discuss the situation with both European and other leaders on the sidelines of the G20. I will also be in contact with President Zelensky to discuss this issue'. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this, emphasising that one principle "is important and we have always upheld it: there is no peace agreement on Ukraine without Ukraine".

A meeting between a US delegation and the EU delegation stationed in the Ukrainian capital will take place this afternoon in Kiev, according to European sources. The same sources did not clarify the formation of the US delegation. Senior Pentagon officials are present in Kiev these days.

European leaders are developing their own counter-offer on how to end the war in Ukraine with alternative conditions to the US plan and are trying to convince Ukraine to support their plan, which is designed to be more favourable to Kiev. The Wall Street Journal writes this. Europe, writes the WSJ, hopes to have the plan ready within a few days, but Kiev has so far not committed to it.

"No plan has been officially communicated to the EU. There is no point in commenting at this moment". This was said by European Council President Antonio Costa responding to a question about the US plan at a press conference at the G20. "We stand by Ukraine in defending the principles contained in the UN Charter and work with President Volodymyr Zelensky for a just and lasting peace," he added.

Donald Trump's administration is putting heavy pressure on Ukraine, demanding that it accept a peace plan between the US and Russia by Thanksgiving, 27 November. The Financial Times writes this, citing senior Ukrainian officials and people with knowledge of the negotiations.

The US peace plan for Ukraine includes a security guarantee modelled on NATO Article 5, which would commit the US and European allies to treat an attack on Ukraine as an attack on the entire 'transatlantic community'. This is what emerges from a second draft of the plan, circulated by Axios, which the US presented to the Ukrainians. It states that any future 'significant, deliberate and sustained armed attack' by Russia against Ukraine 'will be considered an attack that threatens the peace and security of the transatlantic community' and that the US and allies will respond accordingly.

The discussion with the US generals on the peace plan 'continues today in Kiev, we are carefully studying all the proposals of our partners, expecting the same correct attitude towards Ukraine's position. Media reports about alleged 'agreements' or 'removal of clauses' have nothing to do with reality". Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council Rustem Umerov, who was in the US last week, says this on Telegram. "We are carefully considering the partners' proposals within the framework of unchanging principles: sovereignty, human security and just peace."

Aiea-commissioned Zaporizhzhia power station, Kiev's renunciation of NATO forever and the Ukraine-Russia-Europe non-aggression pact: these are the main points of the US peace plan, in addition to the cession of the Donbass to Moscow and the reduction of the Kiev army. Then European jets to Poland and elections in Ukraine within 100 days of the agreement. Appeal for a 'dignified peace' by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Meanwhile, the toll of the Russian raid on Ternopil rises to 28 dead, 94 wounded and 14 missing. Moscow claims to have shot down 33 Ukrainian drones tonight.

Further reading

From the fate of the Donbass to European jets in Poland, the details of the Trump plan for peace in Ukraine

21 November 2025