Putin Endorses Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan as Zelenskyy Refuses to Surrender Sovereignty

When Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv on November 22, 2025, that Ukraine "will not betray the country’s national interests," he wasn’t just making a speech — he was drawing a line in the frozen earth of eastern Ukraine. Just hours earlier, Vladimir Putin had publicly endorsed a 28-point peace proposal brokered by Donald Trump, calling it a "modernised" path to "final peace." But while Moscow celebrated, Kyiv braced. The plan, drafted in secret by Trump’s envoy Stephen J. Witkoff and Russian sovereign wealth chief Kirill Dmitriev during a three-day meeting in Miami from October 24–26, 2025, demands Ukraine surrender territory it still holds, slash its military by half, and accept U.S.-guaranteed security — all while Russia keeps the land it’s seized. The deadline? November 27, 2025 — Thanksgiving Day in America. For Zelenskyy, that’s not a deadline. It’s a trap.

The Terms No Ukrainian Can Accept

The draft, obtained by ABC News and cross-referenced with CBC transcripts, lays out four pillars: peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, European stability, and U.S.-Russia normalization. But beneath the diplomatic language are brutal realities. Ukraine would be forced to freeze its front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, effectively ceding control of areas where Ukrainian forces have been holding ground since 2023. The military cap? 600,000 troops — down from 1.2 million. That’s not just a reduction. It’s emasculation. Ukraine’s army, built from the ashes of 2022’s invasion, has become the backbone of its national identity. To shrink it now, under Russian pressure, feels like surrender dressed as diplomacy.

Then there’s the money. The plan proposes using $100 billion of Russia’s frozen assets — held in European and U.S. banks — to rebuild Ukraine. Sounds generous, until you realize: Russia would still control the terms of disbursement. No oversight. No Ukrainian veto. Just a blank check from the aggressor’s own coffers. "It’s not reconstruction," said a senior Ukrainian defense official, speaking anonymously. "It’s ransom with a PowerPoint presentation."

Putin’s Calculated Endorsement

Putin’s televised nod to the plan wasn’t an act of goodwill. It was a masterstroke of psychological warfare. "We confirmed that, despite certain difficult issues, we nevertheless agree," he said, framing Ukraine’s resistance as the sole obstacle. By positioning himself as reasonable — even flexible — he shifts blame. The world sees a leader ready for peace. Ukraine? A stubborn ally refusing compromise. And the U.S.? The mediator whose patience is running thin.

What’s chilling is how closely this mirrors the Alaska summit in August 2025, where Trump and Putin reportedly agreed on a "broad framework" to reset relations. Dmitriev told Axios the goal was "to bring finally, security to Europe, not just Ukraine." Translation: Ukraine’s sovereignty is negotiable. Europe’s security? Secondary to U.S.-Russia détente. Putin didn’t just endorse the plan. He weaponized it — turning Ukraine’s resistance into proof that the West is dragging its feet.

Zelenskyy’s Last Stand

Zelenskyy didn’t just say no. He’s preparing alternatives. After a tense phone call with James Vance, the U.S. vice president, he signaled Ukraine would propose its own framework — one that includes NATO membership guarantees, international peacekeeping forces on Ukrainian soil, and independent oversight of any reconstruction funds. "We are not asking for victory," Zelenskyy said in a national address. "We are asking not to be erased."

And he’s not alone. Polls show 87% of Ukrainians oppose territorial concessions under any deal brokered without their direct input. In Lviv, students held a candlelight vigil for the 15,000 civilians killed in Russian strikes since 2022. In Odesa, veterans marched with signs reading: "We didn’t fight for frozen lines."

Europe’s Backchannel Revolt

While Washington and Moscow haggled in Miami, European leaders felt the ground slip beneath them. France, Germany, and Poland are now quietly drafting a counter-proposal — one that includes a UN-monitored ceasefire, a European-led security mission, and direct Ukrainian participation in all negotiations. "We cannot allow the fate of Europe to be decided in a backroom in Florida," said a senior EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. The plan is still in early stages, but it’s gaining traction. The goal? To give Ukraine a lifeline that doesn’t require surrender.

Trump, meanwhile, has been public about his impatience. "Yeah, we have a way of getting peace," he told reporters on November 21. "He’s going to have to approve it." The "he"? Zelenskyy. The subtext? Ukraine’s voice is optional. The deadline? Not a negotiation. A ultimatum.

What Happens After November 27?

If Zelenskyy rejects the plan — and he almost certainly will — the consequences will ripple far beyond Ukraine’s borders. The U.S. could pull back military aid, citing "lack of cooperation." Russia may escalate attacks in the Donbas to force Kyiv’s hand. Europe will be forced to choose: stand with Washington, or stand with Ukraine. And if the West fractures, the message to autocrats everywhere will be clear: diplomacy is just another form of coercion.

There’s a reason Putin called the plan "modernised." It’s not new. It’s the same playbook used in Crimea in 2014: make demands, wait for resistance, then paint the victim as the obstacle. The difference now? The world is watching. And for the first time since 2022, Ukraine isn’t alone in its defiance.