President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Friday that Ukraine risks losing its dignity, freedom, or even Washington’s support over a US peace plan that backs key Russian demands, a proposal President Donald Trump says Kyiv should accept within a week.

Trump told Fox News Radio that Thursday was an appropriate deadline for Kyiv to approve the plan and later said Zelenskiy “will have to like it,” adding that if he refuses, “they should just keep fighting.”

The US plan, according to a draft seen by Reuters, requires Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military, and abandon plans to join NATO.

It also calls for Russia to pull back from some captured areas.

US Vice President JD Vance said any deal must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty, but argued it is a “fantasy” to believe Ukraine can win simply through more US funding or weapons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the US proposal could serve as a basis for a final settlement, claiming Kyiv and its European allies refuse to accept the reality of Russian advances.

Zelensky stresses dignity and freedom

Zelensky has previously rejected the terms as surrender and urged Ukrainians to remain united.

“Either losing dignity or risking the loss of a major partner,” he said, vowing to defend “the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians.”

Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy, claimed the US plan aims to prevent more Ukrainian casualties.

Reuters sources say the plan emerged from back-channel talks between Dmitriev and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Two sources said Washington warned it could halt intelligence sharing and weapons supplies if Kyiv rejects the proposal. A senior US official denied that the US threatened to cut intelligence.

Zelenskiy has been cautious publicly, saying Ukraine values US efforts and wants a “real and dignified peace.”

Analysts warn that a poor deal could destabilise Ukraine after nearly four years of war. “Russia gets everything it wants and Ukraine gets not very much,” said Tim Ash of Chatham House.

Europe prepares counter-proposal

The plan is expected to dominate G20 sidelines discussions in Johannesburg.

Three sources said Ukraine is working with Britain, France, and Germany on a counter-proposal.

European leaders, who were not consulted on the US plan, strongly support Kyiv.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: “We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters.”

The US says the plan was developed in consultation with Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, but Umerov denies agreeing to any terms.

Territory and security terms

The draft plan would require Ukraine to withdraw from parts of the east claimed by Russia, while Russia would give up smaller areas elsewhere.

Ukraine would be barred permanently from NATO, its military capped at 600,000 troops, and NATO troops banned from its territory.

Sanctions on Russia would be gradually lifted, Moscow would be invited back into the G8, and frozen Russian assets would be placed into an investment fund.

Ukraine’s core demand for enforceable long-term security guarantees appears only briefly in the document, stating: “Ukraine will receive robust security guarantees.”