Zelensky faces mounting pressure as Trump pushes controversial peace plan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enters a pivotal week in Washington facing a stark dilemma: accept Donald Trump’s proposal for a fast-tracked peace deal with Russia — likely involving territorial concessions — or risk losing U.S. support at a critical stage of the war.

Trump’s recent Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin, which bypassed a ceasefire, has left Kyiv with few options.

The U.S. president hinted at backing Moscow’s demands that Ukraine surrender parts of its eastern territory in exchange for vague “security guarantees,” a scenario many fear could embolden Russia to strike again in the future.

The stakes are heightened by the memory of Zelenskyy’s last White House visit, which ended in a sharp clash with Trump and briefly froze military aid. This time, the Ukrainian leader is accompanied by European officials including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, though their influence remains limited.

Kyiv’s goals in the talks include pressing for tougher sanctions on Russia, clarifying Washington’s security commitments, and exploring a possible trilateral meeting with Putin. Yet Trump’s shift — dropping his earlier demand for a ceasefire before negotiations — signals closer alignment with Moscow.

U.S. officials have floated the idea of offering Ukraine NATO-style defense assurances, but details remain unclear. Meanwhile, Russian attacks continue to intensify, with recent months marking the deadliest period since 2022, according to the UN.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected territorial concessions, stressing that only direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow could address such issues.

However, mounting battlefield casualties and domestic political unrest are testing his position.

As Trump seeks to fulfill his campaign promise to “end the war quickly,” Zelenskyy faces one of the toughest balancing acts of his presidency — navigating between U.S. pressure, Russian aggression, and the expectations of his own people.