A stark ultimatum has landed on Volodymyr Zelensky's desk from Donald Trump, pressing for a resolution to Ukraine's grueling conflict with Russia. The message carries a tight timeline that could reshape the war-torn nation's future.
Trump's envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, conveyed the demand during a two-hour phone call with Zelensky, giving him until Christmas to accept a peace deal after their talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the Daily Mail reported.
The White House is pushing Kyiv hard to concede territory to the Kremlin in return for security assurances that remain frustratingly vague. This pressure reveals a belief in Washington that Ukraine must bend to reality, even if it stings.
Trump didn’t mince words in a Politico interview, stating, "Russia has the upper hand, and they always did. They're much bigger." Such bluntness cuts through diplomatic niceties, highlighting the raw disparity in military might that Ukraine faces daily.
His assessment points to a grim outlook for Kyiv if no deal is struck soon. Size and numbers, as he sees it, often dictate outcomes in prolonged conflicts like this one.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump accused Zelensky of using the war to dodge democratic processes. That charge lands heavily when nearly 400,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed or wounded in the fight for their homeland.
Zelensky, facing this squeeze, announced readiness to hold wartime elections within 60 to 90 days if security can be guaranteed by the U.S. and European allies. His pivot to democratic action seems a calculated move to counter Trump's criticism about clinging to power.
He’s been racing across Europe, meeting leaders in London, Brussels, and Rome to rally support for a revised peace framework. A visit to 10 Downing Street with British, French, and German leaders shows his urgency to craft a plan that doesn’t fully cave to U.S. demands.
On social media, Zelensky shared he’s "very actively" working with allies on a 20-point proposal, trimmed from an initial 28 after dropping terms unfavorable to Ukraine. That pruning suggests a leader trying to hold ground while under immense duress.
Trump also took aim at European leaders, calling them "weak" for failing to secure peace in the region. Their inability to broker a deal, in his view, leaves the continent vulnerable to decay from unchecked migration and overzealous political correctness.
He doubled down on skepticism about Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, echoing long-standing tensions over membership. Such a stance aligns with Kremlin talking points, as Moscow has consistently opposed Kyiv joining the alliance.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted Trump’s remarks on territorial losses and NATO exclusion resonate with Russia’s perspective. That alignment raises eyebrows about whose interests are truly driving this proposed settlement.
The original U.S. peace plan, packed with 28 points, demanded Ukraine shrink its army and cede the eastern Donbas region to Moscow. Zelensky’s team has since split it into three documents, hoping to negotiate terms that don’t gut national sovereignty.
Trump acknowledged the deep animosity between Zelensky and Putin as a barrier, saying, "One of the reasons is the level of hatred between Putin and Zelensky is tremendous." Personal enmity, layered over staggering casualties—nearly one million Russian troops killed or wounded—complicates any handshake.
As Kyiv braces under daily Russian drone and missile strikes, the Christmas deadline looms like a cold shadow. Zelensky’s gamble to win over both European allies and a skeptical White House will test whether Ukraine can secure peace without losing its soul.