Zelenskyy given days to accept Trump peace plan requiring territorial concessions to Russia

The Financial Times reported the information.

President Donald Trump's administration is pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to quickly accept a peace proposal that would end the war with Russia, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

During a two-hour phone call on Saturday, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner pressed Zelenskyy for a rapid decision on the proposed deal. Sources indicate that Trump is aiming for an agreement "by Christmas," leaving Ukraine with limited time to respond.

The proposal would require Ukraine to accept significant territorial losses in exchange for unspecified U.S. security guarantees. Zelenskyy informed his European counterparts that he needs time to consult with allies before making a decision, expressing concern that a rushed agreement could undermine Western unity if the United States proceeds without European support.

"To be honest, the Americans are looking for a compromise today," Zelenskyy told reporters during a Monday evening briefing.

The Ukrainian president met with leaders from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom in London on Monday to discuss the situation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the urgency, stating that the gathering was focused on "the upcoming days. Because this could be a decisive time for all of us."

Last week, Zelenskyy's representatives participated in three days of negotiations in Miami with Witkoff and Kushner. The talks resulted in revisions to an initial 28-point peace plan that Ukrainian officials described as having "anti-Ukrainian" elements influenced by Russian input. The plan has now been reduced to 20 points and is reportedly more favorable to Kyiv.

When asked about setting a timeline for Zelenskyy, Trump told Politico on Monday: "Well, he's gonna have to get on the ball and start, uh, accepting things . . . cause he's losing."

The pressure comes as Russian forces continue their offensive in southeastern Ukraine, making gains in the Donetsk region. Moscow has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in recent months. Russian forces have captured much of the strategic city of Pokrovsk and are threatening nearby areas, moves that could provide a launching point for deeper advances into Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian officials told the Financial Times that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has falsely claimed complete capture of certain cities in an attempt to convince Trump that Russian military momentum cannot be stopped.

On Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy said he was working "very actively" on components of a deal to end the war. "The Ukrainian and European components have already been worked out in more detail, and we are ready to present them to our partners in America," he said, adding that he expects to make progress "as effective and as quickly as possible."

However, Zelenskyy emphasized that any lasting peace depends on Russian cooperation. "And as our partners in the negotiating teams rightly note, everything depends on whether Russia is ready to take effective steps to stop the bloodshed and prevent the war from flaring up again," he said.

Western officials described Ukraine as being caught between unacceptable territorial demands and pressure from a U.S. administration it cannot afford to alienate. Zelenskyy also expressed concerns to European leaders that the EU might abandon a planned "reparations loan" backed by frozen Russian assets, fearing it could jeopardize American support for European security.