Zelensky discusses Trump’s peace plan in a call with J.D. Vance

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Friday (11/21) that he discussed for about an hour the new peace plan presented by the United States in a telephone conversation with the Vice President of North America, J.D. Vance, and the Secretary of the Army, Daniel Driscoll. According to him, the two parties agreed to continue working together, while continuing negotiations with the authorization of advisors from both sides.

The Ukrainian said: “We have succeeded in addressing many details of the American side’s proposals to end the war and are working to ensure that the way forward is truly generous and effective in achieving lasting peace.”

We talked for about an hour with us @VP J.D. Vance W @SecArmy Dan Driscoll. We have been able to cover a lot of details about the American side’s proposals to end the war, and we are working to make the path forward truly dignified and effective to achieve lasting peace. I be… pic.twitter.com/h3uVlnxv2H

– Volodymyr Zelensky / Video (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2025

This call comes one day after the North American delegation led by Driscoll handed over to Zelensky in Kiev the draft proposal prepared by the Donald Trump administration. The 28-point document stipulates significant territorial concessions to Russia and imposes severe limits on Ukrainian military capabilities.

According to the international press, the White House is working intensively to try to end the conflict by the end of the year.

Main points of the American plan

Under the terms published by the international press, the United States and its allies will recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea, Donbass and other occupied territories.
In return, Kiev will receive security guarantees from Washington and Europe, in addition to demilitarized zones in the Ukrainian withdrawal areas.
The size of the Ukrainian army will be reduced by half, it will lose long-range weapons, and it will be prohibited from receiving foreign troops. Russian will become an official language. The package also includes suspending sanctions against Moscow.
In Donbass, Ukraine would have to cede the entire region, including cities still under Kiev’s control, such as Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.
Another controversial point is the “lease” mechanism, whereby Russia pays for effective control over the occupied territories, while maintaining legal ownership registered in Ukraine’s name.

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Presidents Donald Trump (USA) and Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukraine)

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Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky

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Trump and Zelensky

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The Ukrainian leader’s statement on Friday was part of his public reaction to the plan. He stated that the country is going through “one of the most difficult moments” in its history and stressed that Kiev will not accept any solution that undermines the “dignity and freedom” of the population.

Zelensky stressed that his position was already determined in 2019, when he took office: “I promised to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. This oath is not a formality. I will never betray it.”

He added that Ukraine will not raise accusations that it is sabotaging the negotiations and that it intends to work constructively with the United States and European partners. “I will present arguments. I will try to persuade. I will present alternatives,” he said.