US senators have accused Donald Trump of advancing a Ukraine peace proposal that reflects Russian priorities, a claim rejected by US secretary of state Marco Rubio and the State Department.
Senators Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen and Mike Rounds told reporters at a security forum in Canada that Rubio privately described the 28-point document as a Russian “wish list” and “not the administration’s plan” during calls he made while travelling to Geneva for talks.
Senator Rounds said the text “looked more like it was written in Russian to begin with”, insisting: “This administration was not responsible for this release in its current form. They want to utilise it as a starting point.”
A State Department spokesperson called the senators’ account “blatantly false”.
Rubio later wrote on X that Washington had authored the proposal, saying it served as “a strong framework for ongoing negotiations”, drawing on input from both Moscow and Kyiv.
The dispute comes as Sir Keir Starmer and Trump agreed during a call that their teams would coordinate ahead of talks in Geneva.
The prime minister earlier assured president Volodymyr Zelensky of Britain’s “steadfast support for Ukraine”. Trump maintains the plan is not final but wants Kyiv to respond next week. Zelensky has pledged not to “betray his country” while offering alternatives to the Kremlin-backed terms.
Key Points
- Zelensky says US peace plan forces Ukraine into one of its hardest choices
- Trump says he wants Ukraine to respond within a week
- Putin backs Trump’s controversial peace plan to end Ukraine war
- Starmer to meet Ukraine allies in G20 summit
- Rubio confirms Ukraine peace proposal was authored by US
- US senators say Rubio told them Trump's Ukraine peace plan is Russia's 'wish list
Republican lawmaker slams Trump over Ukraine and warns of damaged ‘legacy’: ‘First to surrender’
06:30 , Namita SinghNebraska Republican representative Don Bacon lambasted Donald Trump over his proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, warning it could be the president’s “legacy”.
The president’s 28-point peace plan has been criticised as being favourable to Moscow, demanding Kyiv cede additional territory, limit the size of its military, and agree to never join Nato.
Trump has asked Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to accept the proposal by Thanksgiving.
Bacon was one of several GOP lawmakers to criticise the peace plan.
“They’re pushing a surrender plan on Ukraine and one that will keep Ukraine vulnerable to Russian attacks in the decades to come. It looks like Russia wrote it,” he wrote in a social media post on Saturday.
Report:
Republican lawmaker slams Trump over Ukraine and warns of damaged ‘legacy’
Who is Kirill Dmitriev? The blacklisted Kremlin official behind Trump’s Ukraine peace plan
06:00 , Namita SinghPresidentDonald Trump’s 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine is facing criticism amid claims it skews heavily in Vladimir Putin’s favour.
Trump has given Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky until Thursday to accept the deal, which would cede territory to Moscow, take Nato off the table for Ukraine and allow Russia back into the G8.
As Zelensky faces a difficult choice, US officials and lawmakers have expressed their concern about Russian involvement in the plan after it was revealed the administration had held meetings with a blacklisted Kremlin official beforehand.
Kirill Dmitriev, a close ally of Putin, is the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and assumed the office of the special presidential envoy on Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation on 23 February this year despite little diplomatic experience, writes Bryony Gooch.
The blacklisted Kremlin official behind Trump’s ‘pro-Russia’ peace plan for Ukraine
Trump gives Ukraine a tight deadline
05:30 , Namita SinghOn Friday, Donald Trump threw down the gauntlet to Ukraine, saying Volodymyr Zelensky had until Thursday to approve his 28-point plan, which calls on Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military and renounce ambitions to join Nato.
"He'll have to like it, and if he doesn't like it, then you know, they should just keep fighting, I guess," he said.
"At some point he's going to have to accept something he hasn't accepted."
Recalling their fractious February meeting with Zelensky, Trump added: "You remember right in the Oval Office, not so long ago, I said, 'You don't have the cards'."
In their statement, Western leaders said they were "concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine's armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack".
"We reiterate that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to Nato would need the consent of EU and Nato members respectively."
At Sunday's meeting in Geneva, European nations are keen to suggest changes to Trump's plan, which Russian president Vladimir Putin described as the basis of a resolution to the conflict.
Leaders adopt ‘lion-like spirit’ in talks about peace plan
05:10 , Namita Singh"There are many things that cannot simply be an American proposal, which requires broader consultation," said French president Emmanuel Macron, adding that an agreement had to allow for peace for Ukrainians and "security for all Europeans".
On Friday Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv faced a choice of either losing its dignity and freedom or Washington's backing. He appealed to Ukrainians for unity.
That signal prompted European leaders to rally.
A German government source said they had met in a room in Johannesburg called "lion" and that the leaders had adopted the animal's "spirit" in talks to seek a better deal for Ukraine.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz underlined the importance to Europe of supporting Ukraine.
"If Ukraine loses this war and possibly collapses, it will have an impact on European politics as a whole, on the entire European continent. And that is why we are so committed to this issue," Merz said on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
"There is currently an opportunity to end this war, but we are still quite a long way from a good outcome for everyone."
On Saturday, leaders of eight Nordic and Baltic nations said they had spoken with Zelensky and pledged to keep supplying arms.
In a joint statement, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden said: "Solutions that respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and that will bring Ukraine and Europe greater security and stability have our full support."
Zelensky appealed to his country for unity.
Draft meets measured criticism
04:50 , Namita SinghThe European and other Western leaders agreed that national security advisers from the E3 - France, Britain and Germany - would meet European Union, US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva on Sunday for further discussions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was en route to Geneva late on Saturday for the talks, a State Department official said.
Italy would also send an official, diplomatic sources said.
Washington's plan, which endorses key Russian demands, was met with measured criticism from many US allies. Leaders sought to balance praise for Trump's attempt to end the fighting with recognition that some terms in his proposal are unpalatable for Kyiv.
"The initial draft of the 28-point plan includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace," said the leaders of the EU, Germany, France, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Italy, Japan and Norway.
"We believe therefore that the draft is a basis which will require additional work," they said in a statement.
Western leaders say Ukraine plan needs work, Trump signals scope for changes
04:33 , Namita SinghWestern leaders said on Saturday that a peace plan proposed by the United States can be a basis for talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine but needs "additional work", part of Western efforts to eke out a better deal for Kyiv before a Thursday deadline.
Meeting on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in South Africa, European and other Western leaders scrambled to come up with a coordinated response to US president Donald Trump's demand for Ukraine to accept his 28-point plan by Thursday.
Trump said in brief remarks on Saturday that his proposal was not his final offer, signalling potential room for adjustments as Ukraine and its European allies stressed that the plan could serve as a foundation for negotiations but required changes.
Trump officials’ meeting with Russian officials in Miami spurs questions about Ukraine proposal
04:07 , Namita SinghUS officials and lawmakers are increasingly concerned about a meeting last month in which representatives of the Trump administration met with Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian envoy who is under US sanctions, to draft a plan to end the war in Ukraine, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The meeting took place in Miami at the end of October and included special envoy Steve Witkoff, president Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Dmitriev, who leads the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), one of Russia's largest sovereign wealth funds.
A close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, Dmitriev has taken a leading role in talks with the US about the war and has met with Witkoff several times this year.
The Trump administration has issued a special waiver to allow his entry, one senior US official told Reuters.
Dmitriev and RDIF were blacklisted by the US government in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions effectively bar American citizens and companies from dealing with them.
The meeting resulted in a 28-point plan for ending the war, two people familiar with the situation said. The plan, which was made public earlier this week by Axios, came as a surprise to US officials in various corners of the administration and has stirred confusion at embassies throughout Washington and in European capitals.
It has also prompted criticism from the Ukrainians and their allies for appearing heavily tilted toward Russian interests, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky vowing on Friday that he would not betray Ukraine's interests.
The document, which calls for major concessions from Ukraine, appears to run counter to the tougher stance the Trump administration has lately taken toward Moscow, including sanctions on its energy sector.
It is unclear whether Dmitriev came to the meeting in Miami with certain Russian demands and whether those were incorporated into the peace plan.
The US peace deal for Ukraine is just setting the scene for Putin’s next war
03:10 , James ReynoldsUkraine is being asked to give up land and forget the appalling violence that it has suffered, writes Bob Seely.
But peace is the last thing on Putin’s mind – winning in Ukraine and then humiliating the West remain his goals:
The US peace deal for Ukraine is just setting the scene for Putin’s next war
US senators say Rubio told them Trump's Ukraine peace plan is Russia's 'wish list'
03:07 , Namita SinghUS senators critical of president Donald Trump's approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war said Saturday they spoke with US secretary of state Marco Rubio who told them that the peace plan Trump is pushing Kyiv to accept is a "wish list" of the Russians and not the actual US plan.
A State Department spokesperson denied their account, calling it "blatantly false”.
The 28-point peace plan was crafted by the Trump administration and the Kremlin without Ukraine's involvement.
It acquiesces to many Russian demands that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory. Trump says he wants Ukraine to accept the plan by late next week.
At a security conference in Canada, Independent Maine Senator Angus King, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Mike Rounds from South Dakota said they spoke to Rubio after he reached out to some of them while on his way to Geneva for talks on the plan.
King said Rubio told them the plan "was not the administration's plan" but a "wish list of the Russians”.
"This administration was not responsible for this release in its current form," Rounds said.
"They want to utilise it as a starting point."Rounds said "it looked more like it was written in Russian to begin with”.
Rubio confirms Ukraine peace proposal was authored by US
02:50 , Namita SinghUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that the 28-point proposal for peace in Ukraine that emerged this week was authored by Washington, despite what a handful of senators said.
"It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations," Rubio posted on X.
"It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine.
The peace proposal was authored by the U.S.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 23, 2025
It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations
It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine. https://t.co/JWbAQ04kcw
"Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican, told reporters at a conference in Halifax earlier on Saturday that Rubio had called him and other senators and said it was a proposal that the US had received and passed on to Ukraine.
"He made it very clear to us that we are the recipients of a proposal that was delivered to one of our representatives," Rounds said.
"It is not our recommendation, it is not our plan."
Defenceless Britain is a sitting duck – when Ukraine falls, we’re next
02:30 , James ReynoldsThe government is doing the British public no favours by not facing up to the Russian threat, writes Robert Fox – not least when military leaders are lining up to point out how unprepared we are for future conflict
Defenceless Britain is a sitting duck – when Ukraine falls, we’re next
What happens next?
02:00 , James ReynoldsNational security advisors from France, Britain and Germany are going to meet with EU, US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva tomorrow to discuss the plans.
Ukraine and its European allies have all expressed reservations about the plan as it stands. Trump indicated on Saturday that there was some room for movement.
The US president has sketched out a timeline of just under a week to get a deal agreed. He said he had given Ukraine until next Thursday, caveating that this could move if negotiations show signs of progress.
For its part, Russia supports Trump’s proposal.
Top level discussions with sanctioned Russian envoy 'spooks US officials'
01:00 , James ReynoldsUS officials and lawmakers are increasingly concerned about a meeting between Trump administration officials and Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian envoy under US sanctions, to draft a plan to end the war in Ukraine, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The meeting took place in Miami at the end of October and included special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Dmitriev, who leads one of Russia's largest sovereign wealth funds.
The plan that allegedly came from the meeting appears to run counter to the tougher stance the Trump administration has lately taken toward Moscow. The administration had appeared frustrated by Russia repeating its maximalist demands.
Many senior officials inside the State Department and on the National Security Council were not briefed on the plan, which seems to appease those demands, the two people familiar with the plan said.
The discussions with Dmitriev have also worried some inside the intelligence community, one US official familiar with the matter said.
Air traffic suspended at Dutch air traffic over drone sightings
Saturday 22 November 2025 23:57 , James ReynoldsAir traffic at another European airport has been suspended following a sighting of multiple drones.
"Counter-drone equipment is ready to act", Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans said. "An investigation is ongoing."
Eindhoven serves both as a civilian and as a military airport. All types of air traffic were suspended, Brekelmans said.
The defence ministry did not comment on where the drones had come from.
Europe has accused Russia of orchestrating hybrid attacks on its territory in recent months. Moscow has routinely denied involvement.
How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin
Saturday 22 November 2025 23:05 , James ReynoldsThe ‘deal’ being briefed out by Washington and Moscow is really just a blueprint for Russian conquest.
Sam Kiley explains why it doesn’t have to be that way:
How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin
Northern Europe reaffirms support for Ukraine
Saturday 22 November 2025 22:03 , James ReynoldsLeaders of eight Nordic and Baltic nations said on Saturday they had spoken with Zelensky, reaffirming their support for Kyiv and pledging to keep supplying arms while strengthening Europe’s defences to deter further Russian aggression.
In a joint statement, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden said: "Russia has so far not committed to a ceasefire or any steps leading to peace."
"Solutions that respect Ukraine‘s sovereignty and that will bring Ukraine and Europe greater security and stability have our full support," the statement added.
The group also backed strengthening sanctions and wider economic measures against Moscow as long as the war continues.
Ukraine’s allies rally around Zelensky ahead of crunch talks as Trump offers lifeline to Kyiv
Saturday 22 November 2025 21:45 , James ReynoldsTrump offered allies some hope of salvaging a viable peace deal, telling reporters on Saturday that the widely criticised 28-point peace plan was not his final offer:
Ukraine’s allies rally around Zelensky ahead of crunch talks in Geneva
How Russia is adapting to drone warfare
Saturday 22 November 2025 21:05 , James ReynoldsRussia has bolstered its ailing front lines with a broad array of new kit over the last couple of years.
One such adaptation to the modern battlefield is Rubicon - innovative units that have transformed Russian drone use and the targeting of Ukrainian drone control centres this year.
While production has reportedly shot up, Russia has also invested in unmanned systems troops and supporting special forces.
Analysts say Russia now has a small advantage with frontline drone operations, despite Ukraine’s monumental transformation of drone warfare over the last three years.
There is only one thing Europe and Ukraine can do with Trump’s ‘peace’ ultimatum
Saturday 22 November 2025 20:00 , James ReynoldsTrump’s America is falling into autocracy and advocates for Russian victory in Ukraine – it’s time the West saw this and dealt with it.
Sam Kiley, world affairs editor, explains how:
Trump’s ‘peace’ ultimatum leaves Europe and Ukraine with just one choice
UK will work with US on Trump's peace proposal in Geneva, Starmer says
Saturday 22 November 2025 19:30 , James ReynoldsSir Keir Starmer has spoken to Donald Trump on the phone and agreed their teams will work together on the US president's peace proposal for Ukraine during talks in Geneva tomorrow, Downing Street has said.
The prime minister relayed to Mr Trump what he had discussed with members of the Coalition of the Willing on Ukraine at the G20 summit in South Africa today and agreed to talk to the US leader again tomorrow.
Sir Keir and other leaders have pushed back against the US-drafted plan for Ukraine, raising concerns about proposals to make Kyiv limit its armed forces and give up territory and its path to Nato membership.
The prime minister also spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reiterated the UK's "steadfast support" for Kyiv.
What happens next?
Saturday 22 November 2025 18:45 , James ReynoldsNational security advisors from France, Britain and Germany are going to meet with EU, US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva tomorrow to discuss the plans.
Ukraine and its European allies have all expressed reservations about the plan as it stands. Trump indicated on Saturday that there was some room for movement.
The US president has sketched out a timeline of just under a week to get a deal agreed. He said he had given Ukraine until next Thursday, caveating that this could move if negotiations show signs of progress.
For its part, Russia supports the proposal.
Hope for Ukraine: Trump says disaster plan for peace is NOT his final offer
Saturday 22 November 2025 18:03 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said his current proposal for peace in Ukraine to end Russia's war is not his final offer.
"The war needs to end one way or another," he told reporters on Saturday.
But he said "no" when asked if this was his final offer.
European and other Western leaders have scrambled to come up with a coordinated response to Trump's demand for Ukraine to accept his 28-point peace plan with Russia by Thursday.
Ukraine must be able to defend itself, says Starmer
Saturday 22 November 2025 17:15 , James ReynoldsSir Keir Starmer has said he will talk to Donald Trump about his peace plan which Ukraine's allies have said needs revision "in the coming days".
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, following their meeting at the Johannesburg G20 summit, the leaders called Washington's plan drawn up secretly with Moscow "a basis which will require additional work".
Sir Keir told reporters in Johannesburg: "We are concerned about (caps on military) because it's fundamental that Ukraine has to be able to defend itself if there's a ceasefire."
He said that the allies of Ukraine agreed that "there are elements in the 28-point plan which are essential to lasting peace, but it requires additional work, and that we are going to engage on that."
Macron: Trump's peace plan needs work
Saturday 22 November 2025 16:53 , James ReynoldsFrench president Emmanuel Macron said on the sidelines of the G20 summit that while Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine is good - because it proposes peace - it remains a basis that still needs work.
Western leaders continue to urge vital amends to the proposals seen this week - after being left out of discussions with Washington.
Starmer: I expect to talk to Trump in the coming days
Saturday 22 November 2025 16:32 , James ReynoldsSir Keir Starmer said he expects to speak with Donald Trump in the coming days amid desperate efforts to bolster the president’s plan for peace.
The prime minister said the focus was now on tomorrow’s meeting in Geneva, where he expressed hope that there would be progress.
Starmer said he expects to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in “an hour or so”.
National security advisers from the E3 - France, Britain and Germany - are to meet European Union, U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Geneva on Sunday for further discussions. Italy would also send an official, diplomatic sources said.
Ukraine claims to hold firm around Pokrovsk
Saturday 22 November 2025 15:58 , James ReynoldsUkraine's General Staff said on Saturday that Russian forces had attempted without success to advance to the central part of Pokrovsk by taking advantage of fog.
"However, these actions were unsuccessful, and the enemy is being eliminated in the urban area," General Staff wrote on Telegram.
It said Ukrainian defensive lines in the north were holding firm despite Russian pressure.
In pictures: Relative of Ukrainian prisoners of war burn flares during a rally at Independence Square
Saturday 22 November 2025 15:30 , Bryony Gooch
Allies rally around Ukraine for sustainable peace
Saturday 22 November 2025 15:21 , James ReynoldsUkraine’s allies rallied around Kyiv on Saturday amid frantic discussions over Donald Trump’s damning peace proposal.
The leaders of France, Canada, Italy, Germany, the UK and the EU said in a joint statement that borders must not be changed by force.
They aired concerns and said that they would continue to coordinate with Ukraine and the US in the coming days.
They reiterated the need to ensure a sustainable peace.
Ukraine says it has received 31 civilians who had been held in Belarus
Saturday 22 November 2025 15:00 , Bryony GoochUkraine said it had received 31 civilians on Saturday who had been freed from jail in Belarus.
"Women and men detained in Belarus and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment ranging from two to 11 years are returning to Ukraine," Kyiv's prisoner exchange coordination committee said on the Telegram messaging app.
"We express our gratitude to the United States of America and President Donald Trump for their fruitful work in returning Ukrainian civilians and military personnel from Belarus and Russia," it added.
E3 advisors to meet EU, US, Ukrainian officials on Sunday on Ukraine peace plan
Saturday 22 November 2025 14:50 , Bryony GoochNational security advisors from the E3 countries will meet European Union, U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Geneva on Sunday to discuss Washington's proposed peace plan for Ukraine, officials said on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
The E3 is an informal security alliance of France, Britain and Germany.
EU leaders will discuss Ukraine peace plan on Monday, Costa says
Saturday 22 November 2025 14:40 , Bryony GoochEU leaders will meet on Monday during an EU-Africa summit in Luanda to discuss a U.S.-drafted peace proposal for Ukraine, European Council president Antonio Costa said on Saturday.
"The U.S. draft of the 28-point plan includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace," Costa said in a post on X.
"We are ready to engage in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable. I have invited all 27 EU leaders for a special meeting on Ukraine on the margins of the EU-AU Summit in Luanda on Monday."
Ukraine to meet US in Switzerland to discuss ending war
Saturday 22 November 2025 14:30 , Bryony GoochKyiv will hold consultations in Switzerland with the US on ending Russia's war on Ukraine, a top Ukrainian security official said on Saturday.
"...we are starting consultations between high-ranking officials of Ukraine and the United States on the possible parameters of a future peace agreement in Switzerland," Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, wrote on Telegram.
"We appreciate the participation of the American side and its readiness for substantive talks."
Umerov edited the post, without giving any reason, after a previous version said the talks would be held "with the participation of European partners".
President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved the composition of the delegation for talks, which will be led by the head of his office and includes top security officials, according to a statement on Telegram from his office.
He also approved instructions for the negotiations.
"Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace, and representatives of the Ukrainian state will defend the legitimate interests of the Ukrainian people and the foundations of European security," the presidency statement said
Russia's Ryabkov says potential Putin-Trump summit is on the agenda
Saturday 22 November 2025 14:00 , Bryony GoochThe possibility of another meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and US president Donald Trump is on the agenda, a senior Russian diplomat has said.
"I wouldn't rule anything out," Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview for the state-owned International Affairs magazine, published on Saturday.
"The search for a way forward continues," he said.
Ryabkov said contacts between Russia and the United States had not been suspended, and channels for dialogue continued to function.
Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August, but failed to produce any agreement to resolve or pause Moscow's war in Ukraine. A subsequent plan to meet in Budapest was suspended indefinitely.
"We are working on an ongoing basis. We have well-established formats and channels. Not all of these channels are visible or audible, not all of them need to be discussed publicly, but the fact remains that everything is in working order."
Watch: Trump says Zelenskyy is 'going to have to approve' US peace plan
Saturday 22 November 2025 13:40 , Bryony GoochComment: There is only one thing Europe and Ukraine can do with Trump’s ‘peace’ ultimatum
Saturday 22 November 2025 13:20 , Bryony GoochTrump’s America is falling into autocracy and advocates for Russian victory in Ukraine - it’s time the West saw this and dealt with it, Sam Kiley world affairs editor explains how.
Read more here:
Trump’s ‘peace’ ultimatum leaves Europe and Ukraine with just one choice
Comment: Defenceless Britain is a sitting duck – when Ukraine falls, we’re next
Saturday 22 November 2025 13:00 , Bryony GoochDefenceless Britain is a sitting duck – when Ukraine falls, we’re next
Recap: Proposal meets with scepticism in the US Senate
Saturday 22 November 2025 12:40 , Bryony Gooch"This so-called 'peace plan' has real problems, and I am highly sceptical it will achieve peace," said Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the world's most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin."
Wicker added that Ukraine should be allowed to determine the size of its military and Russian president Vladimir Putin should not be rewarded with assurances from the US.
Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said there's "general concern and alarm that this is a Russian wish list proposal".
Canada's Carney and France's Macron discuss Ukraine at G20 sidelines
Saturday 22 November 2025 12:20 , Bryony GoochCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed Ukraine on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa, the Canadian government said on Saturday.
The two leaders reaffirmed their support and stressed that any settlement to the war in Ukraine must involve Kyiv, respect Ukraine’s core interests and provide security guarantees, the Canadian government said in a statement.
Carney committed to working with allies to reach a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine, it said.
What is in Trump’s 28-point plan to end the war?
Saturday 22 November 2025 12:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russia back in G8, no Nato for Ukraine: What is in Trump’s 28-point plan to end war?
Starmer and Zelensky to coordinate with allies at G20
Saturday 22 November 2025 11:30 , Bryony GoochSir Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelensky and the French and German leaders agreed to “co-ordinate with partners and allies in the coming days” including at the Johannesburg G20 summit on a plan to end the war, No 10 said.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The prime minister spoke to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, this afternoon.
“Discussing diplomatic developments in recent days, the leaders reiterated their unwavering commitment for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
“They underlined their support for President Trump’s drive for peace and agreed that any solution must fully involve Ukraine, preserve its sovereignty and ensure its future security.
“The leaders agreed to co-ordinate with partners and allies in the coming days, including at the G20, as discussions on how best to achieve a lasting peace continued.”
Recap: Reform UK’s former leader in Wales jailed for more than 10 years over pro-Russia bribes
Saturday 22 November 2025 11:00 , Bryony Gooch
Reform UK’s former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, jailed over pro-Russia bribes
Watch: US has power to make Russia serious about ending Ukraine war
Saturday 22 November 2025 10:30 , Bryony GoochStarmer condemns Russia for stalling negotiations
Saturday 22 November 2025 10:00 , Bryony GoochSir Keir Starmer has condemned Russia as he said there “is only one country around the G20 table that is not calling for a ceasefire” as he criticised Moscow for sending nearly 1,000 drones and 54 precision guided missiles in the past week alone.
The prime minister said: “Ukraine has been ready to negotiate for months, while Russia has stalled and continued its murderous rampage.
“That is why we must all work together, with both the US and Ukraine, to secure a just and lasting peace once and for all.
“We will continue to co-ordinate closely with Washington and Kyiv to achieve that.”
Recap: Putin cautiously welcomes US proposal
Saturday 22 November 2025 09:30 , Bryony GoochRussian president Vladimir Putin on Friday cautiously welcomed the US proposal, saying it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement”.
But he said the plan had not been discussed with the Russian side “in any substantive way” and that he assumed this was because the US had not been able to get Ukraine’s consent.
Starmer to meet Ukraine allies in G20 summit
Saturday 22 November 2025 09:00 , Bryony GoochSir Keir Starmer is set to meet Ukraine’s allies at the Johannesburg G20 summit today to seek to “strengthen” a US-drafted plan to end the war with Russia.
Washington reportedly pressed Kyiv to accept the agreement which would see the invaded country make major concessions including giving up territory and cutting the size of its army.
Western nations are scrambling to respond to the proposals that appeared to catch them off guard.
G7 leaders plus others from the G20 will discuss the deal on the sidelines of the South African meeting shunned by Donald Trump.
The 28-point plan is said to have been negotiated by the US president’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev, with Kyiv and European allies left out of the process.
Ahead of Saturday’s talks, Sir Keir said: “Ukraine’s friends and partners will meet in the margins of the G20 summit to discuss how we can secure a full ceasefire and create the space for meaningful peace negotiations.
“We will discuss the current proposal on the table, and in support of President Trump’s push for peace, look at how we can strengthen this plan for the next phase of negotiations.”
Comment: How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin
Saturday 22 November 2025 08:45 , Bryony GoochThe ‘deal’ being briefed out by Washington and Moscow is really just a blueprint for Russian conquest. Sam Kiley, world affairs editor, explains why it doesn’t have to be that way.
Read more here:
How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin
Recap: Vance says it is 'fantasy' to think Ukraine could win against Russia with more US weapons or money
Saturday 22 November 2025 08:30 , Bryony GoochUS vice president JD Vance said any plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine should preserve Ukrainian sovereignty and be acceptable to both countries but that it was a "fantasy" to think Ukraine could win if the US just gave Kyiv more money or weapons or imposed more Russian sanctions.
Watch: Putin says US peace plan for Ukraine could form 'basis' of final settlement
Saturday 22 November 2025 08:15 , Bryony GoochTrump's patience remains a question
Saturday 22 November 2025 08:00 , Namita SinghThe Trump proposal was formally presented to Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday by Dan Driscoll, the US Army secretary.
The plan itself was a surprise to Driscoll's staffers, who were not aware as late as Wednesday that their boss would be going to Ukraine as part of a team to present the plan to the Ukrainians.
Army officials walked away from that meeting with the impression that the Ukrainians were viewing the proposal as a starting point that would evolve as negotiations progressed, according to a US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks.
It's unclear how much patience Trump has for further negotiation. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that Trump's new plan reflects "the realities of the situation" and offers the "best win-win scenario, where both parties gain more than they must give”.
Asked about Zelensky's initial hesitant response to the proposal, Trump recalled the February Oval Office blow-up with Zelensky: "You remember, right in the Oval Office, not so long ago, I said, 'You don't have the cards."
Ukraine examines the proposals
Saturday 22 November 2025 07:40 , Namita SinghUkrainian officials said they were weighing the US proposals, and Volodymyr Zelensky said he expected to talk to US president Donald Trump about it in coming days.
A US team began drawing up the plan soon after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelensky, according to a senior Trump administration official who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The official added that Umerov agreed to most of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelensky.
However, Umerov on Friday denied that version of events.
He said he only organised meetings and prepared the talks.He said technical talks between the US and Ukraine were continuing in Kyiv.
"We are thoughtfully processing the partners' proposals within the framework of Ukraine's unchanging principles – sovereignty, people's security, and a just peace," he said.
Two people killed in Ukraine drone attack on energy facilities in Russia's Samara region, governor says
Saturday 22 November 2025 07:30 , Bryony GoochA Ukrainian drone attack targeted energy facilities in Russia's Samara region, killing two people in the southern city of Syzran, the region's governor said on Saturday.
The attack was repelled by air defence forces, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev wrote on Russia's state-backed Max messenger app.
Two more people were injured and were receiving medical care, the governor said.
Sen Mitch McConnell suggests Trump should dump his Ukraine advisers
Saturday 22 November 2025 07:20 , Namita SinghMitch McConnell lashed out at president Donald Trump’s advisers over the plans on Ukraine suggesting, “if administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the president ought to find new advisors”.
"Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool," the former GOP leader said in a statement.
"Rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to America's interests."
Ukrainian defence minister visited US to discuss peace plans with Witkoff – reports
Saturday 22 November 2025 07:17 , Namita SinghTwo people familiar with the meeting said Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s defense minister, was also in Miami early this week to discuss the plan with special envoy Steve Witkoff, reported Reuters.
One source familiar with the situation said that Witkoff told Umerov about the plan during that visit and that the United States gave the plan to Ukraine via the Turkish government on Wednesday, before directly presenting it in Kyiv on Thursday.
Umerov has described his role as "technical" and denied that he discussed the plan in substance with US officials.
Dmitriev and the Ukrainian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that any peace plan "must offer security guarantees and deterrence for Ukraine, Europe and Russia" and offer economic incentives to both Ukraine and Russia.
"This plan was crafted to reflect the realities of the situation, and to find the best win-win scenario, where both parties gain more than they must give," she said.
Donald Trump said on Friday that he expected Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to sign onto the plan by the Thanksgiving holiday.
The US has warned Ukraine it could curb military assistance if it does not sign, Reuters has reported.
Trump officials’ meeting with Russian in Miami spurs questions about latest Ukraine proposal
Saturday 22 November 2025 07:14 , Namita SinghUS officials and lawmakers are increasingly concerned about a meeting last month in which representatives of the Trump administration met with Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian envoy who is under US sanctions, to draft a plan to end the war in Ukraine, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The meeting took place in Miami at the end of October and included special envoy Steve Witkoff, president Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Dmitriev, who leads the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), one of Russia's largest sovereign wealth funds.
A close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, Dmitriev has taken a leading role in talks with the US about the war and has met with Witkoff several times this year. The Trump administration has issued a special waiver to allow his entry, one senior US official told Reuters.
Dmitriev and his fund were blacklisted by the US government in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions effectively bar American citizens and companies from dealing with them.
The meeting resulted in a 28-point plan for ending the war, two people familiar with the situation said. The plan, which was made public earlier this week by Axios, came as a surprise to US officials in various corners of the administration and has stirred confusion at embassies throughout Washington and in European capitals.
It has also prompted criticism from the Ukrainians and their allies for appearing heavily tilted toward Russian interests, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky vowing on Friday that he would not betray Ukraine's interests.
Proposal meets with scepticism in the US Senate
Saturday 22 November 2025 07:00 , Namita Singh"This so-called 'peace plan' has real problems, and I am highly sceptical it will achieve peace," said Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the world's most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin."
Wicker added that Ukraine should be allowed to determine the size of its military and Russian president Vladimir Putin should not be rewarded with assurances from the US.
Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said there's "general concern and alarm that this is a Russian wish list proposal".
Russia's war against Ukraine is 'existential threat to Europe', EU official says
Saturday 22 November 2025 06:40 , Namita SinghEuropean countries see their own futures at stake in Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.
"Russia's war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe. We all want this war to end. But how it ends matters," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels.
"Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide."
Donald Trump in his radio interview, pushed back against the notion that the settlement, which offers plentiful concessions to Russia, would embolden Vladimir Putin to carry out further malign action against his European neighbours.
"He's not thinking of more war," Trump said of Putin. "He's thinking punishment. Say what you want. I mean, this was supposed to be a one-day war that has been four years now."
A European government official said the US plans weren't officially presented to Ukraine's European backers.
Many of the proposals are "quite concerning", the official said, adding that a bad deal for Ukraine would also be a threat to broader European security.
The official was not authorised to discuss the plan publicly and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
European Council President Antonio Costa, in Johannesburg, said of the US proposals, "The European Union has not been communicated any plans in (an) official manner."
Europe says it will keep supporting Ukraine
Saturday 22 November 2025 06:20 , Namita SinghVolodymyr Zelensky spoke earlier by phone with the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, who assured him of their continued support, as European officials scrambled to respond to the US proposals that apparently caught them unawares.
Wary of antagonising US president Donald Trump, the European and Ukrainian leaders cautiously worded their responses and pointedly commended American peace efforts.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz, French president Emmanuel Macron and British prime minister Keir Starmer assured Zelensky of "their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" in Ukraine, Merz's office said.
The four leaders welcomed US efforts to end the war.
"In particular, they welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees," the statement added.
The line of contact must be the departure point for an agreement, they said, and "the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively".
Starmer said the right of Ukraine to "determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle".
Trump says he wants Ukraine to respond within a week
Saturday 22 November 2025 06:00 , Namita SinghDonald Trump said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is going to have to come to terms with the US proposal, and if he doesn't, "they should just keep fighting, I guess".
Asked by reporters about Zelensky saying his country faces a difficult choice, Trump alluded to their tense meeting in February that led to a brief rupture in the US-Ukraine relationship: "You remember right in the Oval Office not so long ago? I said you don't have the cards."
Trump in a radio interview earlier on Friday said he wants an answer from Zelensky on his 28-point plan by Thursday, but said an extension is possible to finalise terms.
"I've had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines," Trump said in an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio.
"But Thursday is it – we think an appropriate time."
While Zelensky has offered to negotiate with the US and Russia, he signalled that Ukraine may face the prospect of losing American support if it chooses to stand firm.
He urged Ukrainians to "stop fighting" each other, in a possible reference to a major corruption scandal that has brought fierce criticism of the government, and said peace talks next week "will be very difficult”.
Putin accuses Ukraine of being unrealistic
Saturday 22 November 2025 05:40 , Namita SinghRussian president Vladimir Putin called the plan "a new version" and "a modernised plan" of what was discussed with the US ahead of his Alaska summit with president Donald Trump in August, and said Moscow has received it.
"I believe that it, too, could form the basis for a final peace settlement," he said while speaking at a meeting of Russia's National Security Council.
But he said the "text has not been discussed with us in any substantive way, and I can guess why," adding that Washington has so far been unable to gain Ukraine's consent.
"Ukraine is against it. Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under illusions and dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield," Putin said.
Zelensky says US peace plan forces Ukraine into one of its hardest choices
Saturday 22 November 2025 05:20 , Namita SinghUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told his country in an address on Friday that it could face a pivotal choice between standing up for its sovereign rights and preserving the American support it needs, as leaders discuss a US peace proposal seen as favoring Russia.
Russian president Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, cautiously welcomed the US plan to end Moscow's nearly four-year war in Ukraine, which contains many of the Kremlin's longstanding demands while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine.
Putin said it "could form the basis of a final peace settlement", while accusing Ukraine of opposing the plan and being unrealistic.
The plan foresees Ukraine handing over territory to Russia – something Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out – while reducing the size of its army and blocking its coveted path to Nato membership.
Zelensky, in his address hours earlier, did not reject the plan outright, but insisted on fair treatment while pledging to "work calmly" with Washington and other partners in what he called "truly one of the most difficult moments in our history".
He said he spoke for almost an hour Friday with US vice president JD Vance and Army secretary Dan Driscoll about the peace proposal.
"Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest," Zelensky said in the recorded speech.
"Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner."
Vance says it is ‘fantasy’ to think Ukraine could win against Russia with more US weapons or money
Saturday 22 November 2025 05:01 , Namita SinghUS vice president JD Vance said any plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine should preserve Ukrainian sovereignty and be acceptable to both countries but that it was a "fantasy" to think Ukraine could win if the US just gave Kyiv more money or weapons or imposed more Russian sanctions.
Any Ukraine-Russia peace plan has to:
— JD Vance (@JDVance) November 22, 2025
1) Stop the killing while preserving Ukrainian sovereignty.
2) Be acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine.
3) Maximize the chances the war doesn't restart.
Every criticism of the peace framework the administration is working on either…
Key senators say Trump's Ukraine plan rewards Putin and weakens America
Saturday 22 November 2025 04:40 , Namita SinghSeveral prominent senators have criticised Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace plan, saying it favours Russian president Vladimir Putin, leaving the US weaker.
"This deal will not create a just and lasting peace," Democratic senators Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Mark Warner of Virginia, Patty Murray of Washington, Chris Coons of Delaware, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said in a statement.
"It will leave Ukraine vulnerable, Europe unstable, and America weaker."
The lawmakers added that Trump must work with Congress alongside partners in Ukraine and Nato allies "to find a lasting solution that will make Americans and the world safer."
"Let us be clear: this is a war of Russian aggression, led by a dictator who has commanded his troops to commit war crimes, steal children from their families, and torture civilians," the senators said.
"President Trump is rewarding President Putin for these crimes while cutting out the Ukrainians who have fought and died for the cause of democracy and our European allies who have stepped up to support them."
Ukraine examines US's proposals
Saturday 22 November 2025 04:20 , Tara CobhamUkrainian officials said they were weighing the US proposals, and Zelensky said he expected to talk to Trump about it in coming days.
A US team began drawing up the plan soon after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelensky, according to a senior Trump administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The official added that Umerov agreed to most of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelensky.
However, Umerov on Friday denied that version of events. He said he only organized meetings and prepared the talks.
He said technical talks between the US and Ukraine were continuing in Kyiv.
"We are thoughtfully processing the partners' proposals within the framework of Ukraine's unchanging principles – sovereignty, people's security, and a just peace," he said.
Putin backs Trump’s controversial peace plan to end Ukraine war
Saturday 22 November 2025 04:00 , Tara CobhamRussian President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday that Moscow had received peace proposals from the United States concerning Ukraine, suggesting the plan could form the foundation for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Speaking to senior officials in televised remarks, Mr Putin stated: "I believe that it can be used as the basis for a final peaceful settlement."
He further noted that the proposals had not yet been discussed in detail with Russia.
Read more here:
Putin backs Trump’s controversial peace plan to end Ukraine war
Existential threat to Europe in Ukraine's fight against Russia
Saturday 22 November 2025 03:40 , Tara CobhamEuropean countries see their own futures at stake in Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.
"Russia's war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe. We all want this war to end. But how it ends matters," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels. "Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide."
Trump in his radio interview pushed back against the notion that the settlement, which offers plentiful concessions to Russia, would embolden Putin to carry out further malign action on his European neighbours.
"He's not thinking of more war," Trump said of Putin. "He's thinking punishment. Say what you want. I mean, this was supposed to be a one-day war that has been four years now."
A European government official said that the U.S. plans weren't officially presented to Ukraine's European backers.
Many of the proposals are "quite concerning," the official said, adding that a bad deal for Ukraine would also be a threat to broader European security.
The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the plan publicly.
European Council President Antonio Costa in Johannesburg said of the U.S. proposals: "The European Union has not been communicated (about) any plans in (an) official manner."
Proposed peace plan for Ukraine leaves country in a delicate position between US and Russia
Saturday 22 November 2025 03:20 , Tara CobhamAn American proposal to end the war in Ukraine puts the country in a delicate diplomatic position – caught between placating its most important ally, the United States, and not capitulating to Russia, its much larger neighbor that launched a full-scale invasion nearly four years ago.
The 28-point peace plan was crafted by US President Donald Trump's administration and the Kremlin, without Ukraine's involvement. It acquiesces to many Russian demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the proposal late Friday, saying it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement” if the U.S. can get Ukraine and its European allies to agree.
Read more here:
Proposed peace plan for Ukraine leaves country in a delicate position between US and Russia
Europe says it will keep supporting Ukraine
Saturday 22 November 2025 03:00 , Tara CobhamVolodymyr Zelensky spoke earlier by phone with the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, who assured him of their continued support, as European officials scrambled to respond to the US proposals that apparently caught them unawares.
Wary of antagonising Trump, the European and Ukrainian responses were cautiously worded and pointedly commended American peace efforts.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelensky of "their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" in Ukraine, Merz's office said.
The four leaders welcomed US efforts to end the war. "In particular, they welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees," the statement added.
The line of contact must be the departure point for an agreement, they said, and "the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively."
Starmer said the right of Ukraine to "determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle."
Comment: Defenceless Britain is a sitting duck – when Ukraine falls, we’re next
Saturday 22 November 2025 02:00 , Tara CobhamOn Thursday, the defence secretary John Healey put Vladimir Putin and his military on notice following reports of aggressive activity by the Russian surveillance ship Yantar towards an RAF plane sent to track it off the north of Scotland.
Healey said the Yantar crew had fired laser beams at the pilots of an RAF P-8 maritime patrol plane. “That Russian action is deeply dangerous,” he warned. “We see you. We know what you are doing. And if Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.”
Ready for what, you may ask? The activities of Yantar around the British Isles have been noted for nearly three years. The summer before last, the Irish coastguard spotted the ship loitering off Limerick for almost a month, close to one of the main hubs for the transatlantic communication cables. The ship comes under Russia’s GUGI agency, a separate naval command, now responsible for ocean surveillance and sabotage. Among the GUGI inventory is a mother submarine, Belgorod, which can launch underwater attack drones capable of cutting underwater cables and oil and gas pipelines.
Robert Fox writes:
Defenceless Britain is a sitting duck – when Ukraine falls, we’re next
Trump says he wants Ukraine to respond within a week
Saturday 22 November 2025 01:00 , Tara CobhamUS President Donald Trump in a radio interview on Friday said that he wants an answer from Zelensky on his 28-point plan by Thursday, but says an extension is possible to finalize terms.
"I've had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines," Trump said in an interview on the Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio. "But Thursday is it – we think an appropriate time."
While Zelensky has offered to negotiate with the US and Russia, he signaled Ukraine may not get everything it wants and has to confront the possibility of losing American support if it makes a stand.
He urged Ukrainians to "stop fighting" each other, in a possible reference to a major corruption scandal that has brought fierce criticism of the government, and said peace talks next week "will be very difficult."
Watch: US has power to make Russia serious about ending Ukraine war, Zelensky says
Saturday 22 November 2025 00:00 , Tara CobhamZelensky faces rebellion as Ukraine’s president under growing pressure
Friday 21 November 2025 23:00 , Tara CobhamUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing a confluence of crises, testing his ability to lead an increasingly weary nation nearly four years into Russia's devastating full-scale invasion.
For more than a week, Mr Zelenskyy has struggled to contain the fallout from a \$100 million corruption scandal implicating top officials and other associates. The pressure on Mr Zelenskyy has ratcheted up as the United States pushes a proposal it drew up with Russia that would require major concessions from Ukraine — and seemingly few from Russia — to bring an end to the war.
All this is playing out as Russia makes slow but steady advances across parts of the 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line and relentlessly bombs Ukraine's power plants, causing severe electricity shortages as colder weather sets in.
Here are 5 things to know about the growing pressures confronting Zelensky:
Zelensky faces rebellion as Ukraine’s president under growing pressure
