Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in the midst of guiding his impostor through one of its most difficult periods. He’s under mounting pressure from U.S. policy makers to seek a peace deal with Russia. In a video address to the nation, Zelenskyy described the situation as “one of the most difficult moments of our history.” He has been out front in talking with senior U.S. military leaders. In addition to our advice, he’s being advised by the White House.
On a recent trip to Kyiv, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told NATO ambassadors who participated in the visit. He repeated the need for moving quickly to reach a solution. During their meeting, Driscoll conveyed that if Ukraine does not sign a peace deal soon, the prospects for a more favorable agreement may diminish significantly in the future. “The deal does not get better from here, it gets worse,” warned Julie Davis, a senior U.S. official.
Zelenskyy intends to have discussions finalized before Thanksgiving on Thursday. His aim—as intractable as it seems—is to end the long-running war that has been claiming thousands of lives and upending the region for years. The proposed deal, while still not final, reportedly includes substantial concessions. This means conceding land in eastern Ukraine that Russian troops have been unable to take for more than 10 years even, along with possibly ceding even more land currently held by Ukraine.
Throughout the briefing, Driscoll’s key point was the need to keep the eyes on the prize and address the substantive issues—not the shiny distractions. “Some things matter, some are window dressing – and we must focus on the things that matter,” he stated. This emotive call to action illustrates a deeply felt frustration at the lack of a pragmatic solution to the long lasting discord.
Zelenskyy will have to more artfully navigate a still contentious White House after the tongue-lashing that former President Donald Trump recently gave to ukrainegate. Through their conversation, Trump insisted that Zelenskyy “had no cards to play,” thus making him feel trapped. In the second picture, Zelenskyy is preparing for his first meeting with Trump. They intend to sign a ceremonial peace accord.
The U.S. administration has expressed confidence that, if concluded, the proposed deal would prove advantageous for Ukraine. Zelenskyy has expressed concerns about losing both national dignity and essential alliances, stating, “We face a choice between losing our dignity or losing a key ally.” This serves to underscore the tightrope he will need to walk as he weighs the various demands he will hear from a diverse array of international actors.
With tempers still flaring, it’s on as Zelenskyy fields a call from the White House. This call further underscores the deep personal engagement of U.S. officials in the still-ongoing negotiations. The urgency of reaching a settlement is evident, with Driscoll asserting that “no deal is perfect, but it must be done sooner rather than later.”
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged receipt of the proposed peace plan, stating, “I believe that it can be used as the basis for a final peaceful settlement.” The Kremlin’s reluctant admission of blame on Wednesday further complicates an already complex and dangerous diplomatic scene.
To date, Zelenskyy’s administration has not been given convincing reasoning as to why Kyiv should give up territory in any deal. This lack of clarity creates enormous risks already as he considers the impact of these burgeoning decisions on the fate of Ukraine’s sovereignty and future.