Ukraine is currently at an important crossroads within their country, fighting against the vicious Russian attack on their infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has characterized this period as “one of the most difficult moments of our history,” as residents endure severe power shortages, often left without electricity for up to 14 hours a day. The continued invasion has prompted millions of Ukrainians to take shelter at “invincibility points.” These specially designated areas provide them a positive way to recharge their devices and get warm.
While Zelenskyy gives his State of the Nation, global talks ramp up over a problematic 28-point agreement that’s been proposed to settle the war. Rather alarmingly, this agreement goes further to include terms that would see Ukraine hand over land to Russia. Ukraine has been frozen out of the negotiations to this deal. This exclusion has alarmed some of its closest allies about what this might portend.
The latest deployment U.S. President Donald Trump is advocating for an “aggressive timeline” to conclude the hostilities. He thinks, though, that Thursday could be an “appropriate time” for Ukraine to agree to the outlined deal. European leaders and diplomats are deeply dubious of this claim. Above all, they are asking their leaders to challenge Ukraine’s terms and possible consequences to respect its sovereignty.
These are indeed dark times, and Zelenskyy is being backed by other leaders in Europe in a remarkable act of solidarity. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reinforce the crucial idea that any peace plan must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, rights and national dignity. The UK’s opposition leader, Keir Starmer, did the same, underscoring the bipartisan support for Ukraine found across its Western allies.
As those challenges put upward pressure on U.S./NATO supply chains, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told NATO allies in Kyiv that the urgency of the situation can’t be overstated. As Driscoll emphasized, “no deal is perfect.” He warned that time was running out and that action must be taken soon to ensure peace. He made clear that the aggressor should not be allowed to succeed in their strategic objectives. One thing is clear, the Ukrainians should have the deciding voice in any peace negotiations.
This constant back-and-forth on the peace agreement has sent European officials scrambling. One European diplomatic source called the atmosphere in today’s meetings “nightmarish,” speaking to a long, maddening feeling of impotence in negotiations. Meanwhile, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas asserted that “Russia’s war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe,” and reiterated that any agreement’s terms must ultimately be determined by Ukraine itself.
In the middle of all of this, Belarus, a close ally of Russia, just recently pardoned 31 Ukrainian nationals. This decision was the result of a wider agreement between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Trump. This major geopolitical shift introduces yet another layer of complication to a complex, shifting and dynamic geopolitical struggle.
“It was Ukraine that fell victim to Putin’s criminal aggression, and it is Ukrainians, with the support of the United States and EU countries, who must have the decisive voice in peace talks.” – Karol Nawrocki
Zelenskyy’s recent address to the nation is indicative of his understanding that we’re at a make-or-break moment. International leaders are in lockstep with the Ukrainian president’s determined spirit. Against a backdrop of rising hostility and anxiety, they hold their ground together.
As discussions progress on the proposed peace deal, it remains clear that Ukraine’s allies are committed to ensuring that any resolution honors Ukraine’s integrity and sovereignty. These next few days will be decisive for Ukraine. They will determine the future of European security and stability.