Putin Responds Cautiously to New US Peace Plan as Zelenskyy Faces Intensifying Pressure

Moscow, Nov 22: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday offered a measured response to a newly proposed US peace plan intended to end Moscow’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. Calling it “a modernized plan” that “could form the basis of a final peace settlement,” Putin nonetheless stressed that the proposal had not been substantively discussed with Russia. He also hinted that Ukraine and its European allies appear more focused on securing a military victory rather than pursuing negotiations.

The plan, according to Western officials, incorporates several of Putin’s longstanding demands. It reportedly offers Ukraine limited security guarantees while requiring Kyiv to agree to territorial concessions, scale back military capabilities, and forgo NATO membership—conditions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long rejected.

Zelenskyy, speaking on Friday after a nearly hour-long call with US Vice President JD Vance and US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, acknowledged that Ukraine has reached a pivotal stage in the conflict. He described the talks as “constructive” but admitted that Ukraine may not be able to secure all of its demands. “Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the difficult balance between safeguarding sovereignty and preserving critical American support.

European leaders reacted cautiously to the US initiative. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelenskyy of continued support, emphasizing that Ukraine must retain the right to determine its own future. They also underscored the need for strong defense capabilities and rejected the notion that Russia has any legal claim to concessions. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reiterated that the terms of any settlement must be decided by Ukraine, not imposed externally.

US President Donald Trump has asked Zelenskyy to provide a formal response to the 28-point peace framework by Thursday, though he indicated flexibility in the timeline. Trump defended the concessions embedded in the plan, arguing that Putin seeks retribution for past grievances rather than broader conflict in Europe.

Meanwhile, US-Ukraine technical teams continue working through the proposal in Kyiv, while Zelenskyy consults with key European partners. The Ukrainian leader has emphasized that any agreement must ensure “sovereignty, people’s security, and a just peace.” European officials, however, warned that elements of the proposal—and the lack of structured consultation with European allies—could pose risks to broader regional security if not carefully negotiated.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)