Trump Warns Ukraine on Peace Deal: “Zelenskyy Can Fight His Little Heart Out”

President Donald Trump has said that the U.S. peace plan to end the Russia–Ukraine conflict is not his “final offer,” after a coalition of Ukraine’s Western partners insisted that the proposal requires major changes before Kyiv can accept it.

Speaking outside the White House on Saturday morning, Trump remarked that if President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects the agreement, he could “fight his little heart out.” When pressed on whether this was the ultimate U.S. proposal, Trump replied, “No, we’d like to get to peace.” However, he also made it clear that he expects Ukraine to respond by November 27, saying, “We’ll end this one way or another.”

Trump further claimed that the Russia-Ukraine War “would never have started” had he been president in early 2022.

Republican Senator Mike Rounds said that according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the 28-point proposal was originally drafted by Russia — a claim the U.S. State Department has not commented on publicly.

Senior security officials from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Ukraine are set to meet in Geneva on Sunday in an attempt to revise and improve the plan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that the country is facing “one of the most difficult moments in our history” as washington pressures Kyiv to consider a proposal widely seen as advantageous to Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir putin has described the U.S. document as a potential “basis” for a settlement. Meanwhile, Washington has given Kyiv until November 27 to make its stance clear.

The Geneva talks will include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Representing the UK will be National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

During the G20 Summit in South Africa, leaders from Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Germany, Norway, and senior EU officials signed a joint declaration stating that the U.S. proposal is “a basis which will require additional work.”

The group stressed that “borders must not be changed by force” and raised concerns over restrictions on Ukraine’s military strength that could leave the country vulnerable to future Russian aggression.

Key Issues: Troop Limits, Territory, and Security Guarantees

Leaked details suggest that the U.S. proposal would recognize de facto Russian control over Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea, while requiring Ukrainian forces to withdraw from parts of eastern Donetsk that Kyiv currently holds.

The plan would also cap the Ukrainian military at 600,000 troops and freeze the front lines in partially occupied regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. To bolster regional security, European fighter jets would be stationed in Poland.

Alongside “reliable security guarantees” for Ukraine, the proposal offers Russia a roadmap for reintegration into the global economy, including phased sanction relief and possible reentry into the G7.

Summary of Proposed Peace Conditions

While at the G20 gathering in Johannesburg, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met both Zelenskyy and Trump. Downing Street confirmed that Starmer pledged to work with allies to evaluate the plan thoroughly during the Geneva talks.

Starmer later told reporters that he strongly opposes imposing strict troop limits on Ukraine, emphasizing that Kyiv “must be able to defend itself” under any ceasefire framework.

Kyiv’s Stand: “Do Not Lose Dignity”

In a solemn national address on Friday, Zelenskyy cautioned Ukrainians that the country may soon confront a painful choice: “either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner.”

He affirmed that Kyiv would continue constructive dialogue with Washington while defending “the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians.”

Zelenskyy also appointed his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, to lead Ukraine’s negotiation team. He said the delegation “knows how to defend Ukraine’s national interests” and will focus on preventing further Russian advances.

Ukraine remains heavily dependent on U.S. supplies of advanced weaponry, including air defense systems and intelligence support, to deter Russian attacks.

Putin said Friday that Moscow had received the U.S. plan but had not yet discussed it in depth. He asserted that while Russia is prepared to “show flexibility,” it is also ready to continue the military campaign.

Western intelligence evaluations indicate that despite heavy casualties, Russian troops have made minor but consistent gains in southeastern Ukraine in recent months.