Forced Abandonment: Ukraine May Cede Cities Under US Peace Pressure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is under intense pressure to accept a peace deal that would force the abandonment of cities and territory to Russia. Zelenskyy warned the country faces an “impossible choice,” with the Donald Trump-backed proposal widely condemned as capitulation by Ukrainian and European officials.
The diplomatic crisis is amplified by Trump’s aggressive deadline, identifying Thanksgiving next Thursday as the “acceptable deadline” for Ukraine to sign the binding agreement. This swift timeline has caused deep concern across Europe, where leaders view the terms as dangerously one-sided, demanding major concessions that would permanently weaken Ukraine’s defensive posture.
In a somber address outside the presidential palace, Zelenskyy detailed the profound dilemma: maintain national dignity or risk alienation from a US administration actively coercing Kyiv into accepting Moscow’s demands. He noted the immediate logistical choice is between signing the agreement or facing another “extremely difficult winter.”
The President forcefully contended that the deal would strip Ukraine of its freedom, dignity, and justice. He issued a grave warning against trusting Russia, referencing the historical fact of two invasions. He vowed to protect the constitution and never betray his people, recalling the defiance and refusal to surrender that marked 2022.
European leaders immediately rejected Trump’s proposed map, which included the forced ceding of cities and military reduction. They stood united, demanding that any durable peace must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and must be negotiated from the existing line of contact, not terms dictated by Russia.