Saturday, November 22, 2025 -Vladimir Putin has offered a cautious but notable welcome to Donald Trump’s new 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine, calling it a “modernized” version of earlier drafts and suggesting it could serve as the basis for a “final peace settlement.”
While signaling openness, he also accused Ukraine and European allies of clinging to “unrealistic” expectations of defeating Russia on the battlefield. Putin emphasized that Russia is ready to show “flexibility,” but warned that if Ukraine refuses negotiations, Russia will continue its military advance and attempt to seize additional cities.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s response reflects the intense pressure Ukraine currently faces. He described the moment as one of the most difficult in the country’s history and framed the U.S. proposal as a stark, high-stakes choice: accept terms many Ukrainians view as concessions or risk a tough winter and potential erosion of Western support.
Zelenskyy did not reject the plan outright. Instead, he stressed the need to present Ukraine’s arguments, offer alternatives, and remain visibly committed to pursuing peace so that Russia cannot accuse Kyiv of blocking diplomacy. He also underlined the importance of maintaining a constructive process with the U.S. and other partners.
The diverging but strategic reactions from both leaders underscore the critical juncture of the war. Putin’s combination of openness and threat suggests Moscow is willing to negotiate but not from a position of weakness.
Zelenskyy must balance the survival of Ukraine’s sovereignty with the political reality that Western backing is not guaranteed indefinitely. Trump’s peace plan has therefore introduced a new phase of urgency: one that could define the future of the conflict depending on how Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington choose to proceed.
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