INDEPENDENT
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says he won’t ‘betray’ his country after Trump peace plan talks with Vance
‘This is one of the most difficult moments in our history,’ Ukrainian president says in address to the nation
Arpan Rai, Alex Croft
Friday 21 November 2025 15:44 GMT
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US has power to make Russia serious about ending Ukraine war, Zelensky says
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Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will not betray Ukraine as he promised to propose "alternatives" to the Donald Trump’s peace proposal.
"This is one of the most difficult moments in our history," Mr Zelensky said in a video address to the nation, following a phone call with US vice president JD Vance.
"Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner,” he added.
Washington has warned Ukraine to sign a framework of Donald Trump ’s peace deal by next Thursday if it wants to avoid its weapons supply being cut.
The 28-point US-proposed plan endorses some of Russia's principal demands in the war, including that Kyiv cede territory, reduce the size of its military and be barred from joining Nato.
Sources told Reuters news agency that Washington was putting greater pressure on Ukraine than it had done during any previous discussions, adding that intelligence sharing could also be cut.
Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump will hold a call next week, Sky News reported, to discuss the contentious plans.
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Key Points
- Zelensky says he won't 'betray' his country after Trump peace plan talks with JD Vance
- US tells Ukraine: Sign deal by Thursday or have weapons cut off
- Kyiv denies reports it agreed to 'majority' of Trump peace plan
- Starmer: Ukraine's future 'must be determined by Ukraine'
- Zelensky and Trump to hold phone call next week - report
- What is in Trump's draft Russia-Ukraine peace plan?
- Trump deal ‘unacceptable’ for Ukraine, Kyiv lawmaker tells The Independent
32 minutes ago
Zelensky: 'Either 28 points or an extremely harsh winter'
Here are some of the key quotes from Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Ukraine this afternoon, following a call with the US vice president JD Vance:
"Now is one of the most difficult moments of our history. Now, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the heaviest. Now, Ukraine can face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity or risk losing a major partner.
"Either 28 difficult points (of the framework), or an extremely harsh winter, the harshest ever and further risks. Life without freedom, without dignity, without justice.
"I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will offer alternatives, but we will definitely not give the enemy any reason to say that Ukraine does not want peace, that it is disrupting the process and that Ukraine is not ready for diplomacy.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain21 November 2025 15:44
36 minutes ago
Ukrainian rescuers sift through rubble of deadly Russian strike on Ternopil which killed at least 26
Ukrainian rescuers sift through rubble of deadly Russian strike on Ternopil which killed at least 26
Alex Croft21 November 2025 15:41
1 hour ago
Death toll of Ternopil strike now 31
The death toll in the Russian strike on Ternopil on Wednesday has risen to 31, rescuers said after recovering three more bodies.
This includes six children, with a total of 94 people injured including 18 children.
Serhii Ziubanenko, head of the National Police in Ternopil Oblast, told Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne that the bodies of mother and her two children, aged 5 and 18 months were found today.
Another 13 people are still considered missing and may be under the rubble, authorities said.
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Local residents stand at the site of a heavily damaged building following an air attack in Ternopil which killed at least 31 (AFP/Getty)
A mother and two children were found on Friday (Copyright 2025 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Alex Croft21 November 2025 15:16
1 ho ago
Zelensky says he won't 'betray' his country as Ukraine faces 'one of the most difficult moments in history'
President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that Ukraine has to confront the possibility of losing its dignity or risking the loss of a key partner as it figures out how to respond to a US peace proposal.
"This is one of the most difficult moments in our history," Mr Zelensky said in a video address to the nation.
"Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner."
He said he will not betray Ukraine as he promised to propose "alternatives" to the plan put forward by the Trump administration..
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine's national interest "must be taken into account" in talks over the proposal, and vowed to work constructively.
"We do not make loud statements, we will work calmly with America and all partners," he said. "There will be a constructive search for solutions with our main partner."
(AFP/Getty)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain21 November 2025 15:15
57 minutes ago
Ukraine's future 'must be determined by Ukraine,' Starmer says
Sir Keir Starmer has said that Ukraine’s future must “ultimately be determined by Ukraine”.
The prime minister reiterated his belief in Kyiv's self-determination in a call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky about the US-Russia developments.
French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz also took part in the call.
"That was an opportunity for us to express, again, our support for Ukraine and the principle that's very important, which is all matters to do with Ukraine must be determined ultimately by Ukraine," he told broadcasters at a Johannesburg train depot.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain21 November 2025 15:09
1 hour ago
Comment | How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin
He let the performance play out. Donald Trump would give the impression of independence from the Kremlin, threatening sanctions on Russian fuel importers and muttering insults, but, in the end, Vladimir Putin has snapped the puppet strings tight, and the US president is again dancing the Moscow jig.
It is a desperate but effective move by Moscow to dominate the terms of discussion over a war Russia cannot win.
According to a 28-point plan for peace in Ukraine briefed to the media on Wednesday, the US and Russia have agreed that Kyiv should give up a vast tract of the east of the country, halve its army, abandon its constitutionally mandated Nato membership application, and relinquish any weapons that could be used in its future defence.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin
The ‘deal’ being briefed out by Washington and Moscow is really just a blueprint for Russian conquest. Sam Kiley explains why it doesn’t have to be that way
Alex Croft21 November 2025 14:53
1 hour ago
Solution must fully involve Ukraine, agree leaders
The French presidential palace has released a statement on President Macron’s call with Volodymyr Zelensky, UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
They all stressed a solution for Ukraine "would have to fully imply Ukraine, preserve its sovereignty and guarantee its future security," the statement said.
All decisions involving the European Union and Nato must be agreed upon by all the member states of EU and Nato respectively
Alex Croft21 November 2025 14:31
1 hour ago
Ukraine needs security guarantees and just peace, says speaker
Ukraine needs a just peace, security guarantees, and effective deterrence against aggressors, parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said on Friday after he met top US army officials in Kyiv.
Washington has presented Kyiv with a 28-point plan that would require Kyiv to give up additional territory, scale back the size of its military and abandon hopes of joining the Nato western military alliance.
Alex Croft21 November 2025 14:10
2 hours ago
Europea leaders hold talks on US-proposed peace deal
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he held talks on the US-proposed peace plan with UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French president Emmanuel Macron.
"We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace," Mr Zelensky wrote on X.
“We value the efforts of the United States, President Trump, and his team aimed at ending this war,” he added.
“We are coordinating closely to make sure that the principled stances are taken into account.”
(AFP/Getty)
Alex Croft21 November 2025 13:51
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