JD Vance: more weapons will not change the course of the war
US Vice President JD Vance described as an illusion the claims that additional financial or military aid will bring Ukraine closer to victory.
"There is a fantasy that if we provide more money, more weapons or more sanctions, victory is within reach. Peace will not be achieved by failed diplomats or politicians living in a world of illusions. Peace can be achieved by smart people living in reality," he wrote on Platform X.
According to Vance, "any criticism of the peace framework the administration is working on either misunderstands its substance or distorts the reality on the battlefield."
He also stressed that any plan must be "acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine" and should minimize the risk of renewed fighting.
Putin: US demands flexibility from Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the current 28-point plan has been "improved" since the Alaska summit. It can be the basis for a future peace settlement, he said, but "has not yet been discussed in detail with Russia".
He cited as the reason that the US has so far failed to secure Ukraine's consent, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
Putin claims that Washington has asked Moscow to be "flexible" towards Kiev. However, he also reiterated that Russia will not give up its territorial and security demands. He added that Russian troops had occupied the town of Kupyansk, which Kiev denied.
Zelensky: Either we lose our dignity or a key partner
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned in an extraordinary speech that his country faces an "extremely difficult choice": between losing its dignity and risking losing Washington's support, according to the Kyiv Post.
He has previously described the terms of the US plan as capitulation, but in recent days he has chosen a more diplomatic tone so as not to "offend US partners".
After an hour-long phone call with Vice President Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, Zelensky announced that Ukraine would "work with America and Europe to achieve a dignified peace."
Europe speaks of a dangerous moment
According to several Reuters sources, US officials have hinted to Kiev that intelligence and military support may be cut if the plan is rejected. The US officially denies this.
According to leaked information, the White House plan envisages that Ukraine will never join NATO, limit its army to a maximum of 600 thousand troops and surrender the Donbas. In return, Moscow would withdraw from some areas and anti-Russian sanctions would be gradually lifted.
The leaders of France, Germany and Britain expressed strong support for Zelensky in a teleconference on Friday. According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the basis of the negotiations must remain the current fornt line, which contradicts the US proposal.
European diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas warned that this is a "very dangerous moment" and reminded that Russia has no legal right to demand concessions from a country it has invaded.
Three sources confirmed that the European Union is working with Ukraine on an alternative peace proposal that is supposed to be more acceptable to Kiev. European partners were not involved at all in the drafting of the US document, which has led to tensions between the allies.
(reuters, swag)
