Zelensky Addresses Nation: Ukraine Faces “Loss of Dignity” or Losing US Support

In a somber and historically resonant address delivered this morning from the steps of the Presidential Office in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to the nation, framing the current geopolitical crisis as “one of the most difficult moments in its history.” Visually echoing his defiant “I am here” video from the onset of the Russian invasion in February 2022, the President’s tone today was not one of defiance, but of a leader confronting an existential dilemma forced upon him by his allies.
Zelensky explicitly addressed the mounting pressure from Washington, confirming reports of an ultimatum attached to the controversial “28-point” peace framework currently being pushed by the Trump administration. “Ukraine has a very difficult choice,” Zelensky stated, looking directly into the camera. “Either loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner.”
The speech serves as the first public acknowledgment by Kyiv of the draconian terms outlined in the U.S.-brokered proposal. As reported by Axios and the Wall Street Journal, this plan—drafted by U.S. envoys and Russian officials without Ukrainian input—demands that Kyiv cede full control of the Donbas and Crimea to Russia and abandon its NATO aspirations. Zelensky characterized this option not as peace, but as a surrender of national soul.
“Either the difficult 28-points, or an extremely difficult winter, the most difficult, and further risks,” Zelensky warned, alluding to the threat that the United States could sever military and financial aid if Kyiv rejects the deal. The “further risks” likely refer to a total collapse of the frontline without American munitions, leaving Ukraine to fight a defensive war in freezing conditions with dwindling resources.
However, Zelensky expressed deep skepticism regarding the security guarantees promised in the U.S. plan. “A life without freedom, without dignity, without justice, and believing someone who has already attacked us twice,” he said, referring to Vladimir Putin’s Russia. His words reflect a profound lack of trust that any “paper promise” from Washington or Moscow could deter a third invasion once Ukraine has been stripped of its strategic depth and long-range capabilities.
The address comes amid a perfect storm for the Ukrainian leader. Domestically, his administration is reeling from a massive corruption scandal involving defense funds, which has eroded public trust. Internationally, the “America First” foreign policy of the second Trump term has shifted from unconditional support to transactional coercion.
By taking his case directly to the Ukrainian people, Zelensky appears to be preparing the population for a pivotal decision: to accept a painful, U.S.-imposed partition of the country, or to reject the “28 points” and face the Russian war machine alone, isolated from the superpower that has sustained its defense for over three years.