Khaberni - U.S. President Donald Trump gave Kyiv until Thursday to respond to his peace plan, while his deputy J.D. Vance laid out "the truth" before the Ukrainians.
He said that any plan to end the Russian war in Ukraine must preserve Ukrainian sovereignty and be acceptable to both countries.
Fantasy
However, Vance added that it's "fantasy" to believe that Ukraine could win if the United States gives Kyiv more money or arms or imposes more sanctions on Russia.
Trump proposed a 28-point plan to Ukraine, adopting some of Russia's major demands in the war, including Kyiv ceding more land, reducing the size of its army, and preventing it from joining NATO.
On Friday, Moscow announced that it considers the American plan could be a basis to resolve the conflict ongoing since February 2022.
Despite previously declaring his refusal to cede land for peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is careful not to anger the American president.
Zelenskyy made a phone call with leaders from his allies: the UK, Germany, and France, as well as with the U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance later, and appeared keen not to reject the American plan or speak negatively about the Americans.
He said, "We appreciate the efforts of the United States and President Trump and his team aimed at ending this war. We are working on the document prepared by the American side. It must be a plan that ensures a true and dignified peace."
Zelenskyy said in a speech in front of his office, a place rarely used for delivering important speeches, that Ukraine seeks to maintain its freedom and secure support from its most important allies at the same time.
He added: "We are now going through one of the toughest moments in our history. The pressure on Ukraine has reached its peak currently. Ukraine might face a very difficult choice, either losing dignity or risking losing a major partner."
He continued, saying, "I will do my utmost around the clock to ensure that at least two points in the plan are not overlooked, namely the dignity of the Ukrainians and their freedom."
Also on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "Ukraine and its European allies are still deceiving themselves and dreaming of dealing a strategic defeat to Russia on the battlefield," confirming that Moscow is ready, in case of refusal, to achieve its objectives "by arms, within an armed struggle."
