US President Donald Trump delivered one of his strongest warnings yet regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking at the White House, Trump said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would “have to like” a US peace plan if he truly wanted the war to stop. He added that if Zelensky refused, Ukraine would simply “keep fighting.”
Trump Pushes Hard for Ukraine to Accept the Peace Plan
Trump made these comments during a meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. His message was direct and aimed at pressuring Kyiv to accept a 28-point peace plan created by his administration. According to reports, this peace plan asks Ukraine to hand over part of its eastern territory to Russia and reduce the size of its army.
He told reporters, “At some point he’s going to have to accept something,” making it clear that he believes Ukraine cannot continue the war without eventually agreeing to a deal.
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Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration over the ongoing conflict. Earlier the same day, he announced a deadline — November 27, the US Thanksgiving holiday — for Ukraine to decide whether it will accept the peace plan. He explained that deadlines “can be extended if things are working well,” but insisted that Thursday was an “appropriate time” for an answer.
The strong tone of Trump’s comments shows how urgently he wants the war to end under terms shaped by the United States and outlined in the peace plan.
Zelensky Rejects US Peace Plan, Says Ukraine Will Not Lose Its Dignity
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded firmly and immediately. On Friday, Zelensky declared he would not “betray” his country or its people by accepting a peace plan that Kyiv believes favors Russia. Ukrainian officials say the 28-point document leans heavily toward the Kremlin’s interests and does not protect Ukraine’s long-term security.
Zelensky emphasized that accepting such a peace plan would put Ukraine’s dignity and freedom at risk — two things he said the country “cannot give up under any circumstances.” Despite pressure, he made it clear that Ukraine would not agree to any proposal that forces it to surrender territory or weaken its military at a time when it is still defending itself on the battlefield.
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Details from the draft reveal several terms that Kyiv says are impossible to accept. The US peace plan reportedly requires Ukraine to hand over a wide area of its eastern region to Russia. It also demands that Ukraine cut the size of its army to a level Ukrainian leaders believe is unsafe in the middle of an active conflict.
At the same time, Ukrainian officials say they will never give up their right to join NATO. They also reject the idea of allowing Western peacekeepers inside their territory, although the peace plan suggests placing European fighter jets in Poland to support regional security.
Zelensky’s refusal highlights Ukraine’s clear position: the country will not accept a peace plan that weakens its independence or rewards aggression.
Trump Says Ukraine Will Lose Territory Either Way
Trump continued to argue that Ukraine should accept the US proposal as soon as possible. He insisted that if the fighting continues, Ukraine will still end up giving away parts of its territory — but without a negotiated deal to support it. He said the plan offers a structured way to end the war before Ukraine suffers further losses.
While speaking about Ukraine’s defense, Trump said, “Say what you want, they were very brave.” But he repeated his belief that the situation would not improve for Ukraine unless it accepts a negotiated settlement.
He also claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is not looking for more war,” suggesting that Moscow might be ready to settle if Ukraine agrees to the terms laid out in the peace plan.
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Trump’s statements reveal the strong pressure coming from Washington. His administration is pushing for an outcome that ends the war quickly, even if it means Ukraine must make major sacrifices. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s leadership insists it cannot accept a peace plan that compromises its territorial integrity, its dignity, or the future of its national identity.
As the Thanksgiving deadline approaches, both sides remain far apart. Ukraine’s rejection of the US peace plan, combined with Trump’s insistence that Zelensky “will have to like it,” has created a tense standoff. The world is watching closely as the disagreement shapes the next steps in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.