Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky thanked President Trump for his ongoing support after Trump blasted him for expressing “zero gratitude” — but Zelensky also appeared to reject the new US peace plan.
“Ukraine is grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and personally to President Trump for the assistance that – starting with the Javelins – has been saving Ukrainian lives,” Zelensky said on X, referencing the American missiles.
While he heaped praise to Trump in a series of posts Sunday morning, Zelensky hesitated to endorse the White House’s controversial 28-point peace deal, which calls on Ukraine to make major concessions like giving up the Donbas region while having Russia give up very little.
Zelensky stressed the need for a “dignified peace” that deterred future Russian aggression.
Under the US proposal, Ukraine would have to give up the entire Donbas region, shrink its military by about a third, commit to never joining NATO, and give amnesty to everyone involved in the war.
Meanwhile, Russia would only have to concede small pockets of land it currently occupies in Ukraine and vow not to invade its neighbors, with Moscow also expected to be rewarded with reintegration into the global economy.
Following Sunday’s meetings with US and European leaders on Trump’s peace proposal, Zelensky said that a deal cannot reward Russia for invading Ukraine and starting the war, which is approaching its fourth year.