Ukraine needs 'real, dignified' peace, Zelenskyy says
In his nightly video last night, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered a bit of insight into his thinking about the deal, as he said:
“The American side presented its proposals: the points of a plan to end the war, their vision.
From the first days of the war, we upheld one very simple position: Ukraine needs peace. A real peace, one that will not by broken by a third invasion. A dignified peace, with terms that respect our independence, our sovereignty, and the dignity of the Ukrainian people. And it is exactly such terms that we must secure.
I outlined our key principles, and we agreed that our teams will work on these proposals.”
Zelenskyy also said that he’s in close contact with Finland’s Alexander Stubb – who is one of the best connected European leaders in the US, and plays a key role behind the scenes – as well as France’s Emmanuel Macron.
He also confirmed he expected to speak with Trump “in the coming days.”
Morning opening: Europe scrambles to respond to US plan for Ukraine
EU leaders are scrambling to respond to the US-led proposal for ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine, amid signs that the US president, Donald Trump, and his administration want to progress the deal to an “aggressive timeline”.
But a number of points in the draft deal appear to violate Ukraine’s longstanding red lines, and clash with the EU’s and European Nato member’s interests.
EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, repeated in the last few minutes at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum that “for any peace plan to work, it has to be with Ukraine and with the Europeans on board”.
She said:
“We are four years into Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, with no real signs that Moscow wants peace.
If Russia really wanted peace, it would have accepted the unconditional ceasefire that has been on the table since March this year.”
But she added:
“We are supportive of any plan that brings about just and lasting peace.”
The key question for many in Europe for the coming days will be: is giving in to most of Russia’s demands under the US plan really moving us towards “just and lasting” peace?
I will bring you all the key reactions here.
It’s Friday, 21 November 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
