Ukraine Faces Mounting Pressure as Peace Plan Demands concessions, Internal Crisis Deepens
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is navigating a confluence of crises – a potential peace plan requiring meaningful territorial concessions to Russia, a renewed offensive along the front lines, and a domestic corruption scandal – creating a moment of acute vulnerability for the war-torn nation. A draft proposal, obtained by the Associated press, outlines a plan for ending the war that would grant russia effective control of the entire eastern Donbas region and limit the size of Ukraine’s military, demands Zelenskyy has previously rejected as “unconstitutional and unjust.”
The proposed plan comes as Russia intensifies its military pressure, making steady advances in the northeastern Kharkiv region, targeting Kupiansk and Lyman, and engaging in fierce battles around the strategically critically important city of Pokrovsk in the donetsk region. Together,Russian attacks on ukraine’s power plants in November have triggered some of the most severe electricity shortages since the war began in early 2022.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the challenging choices Ukraine may face, stating on Friday the country risks “losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner,” seemingly referencing potential wavering U.S. support. The timing of the peace plan’s emergence coincides with a corruption scandal within Ukraine, prompting concerns that external actors are exploiting the internal turmoil to push for concessions.
“The timing is very damaging for Ukraine,” saeid Orysia Lutsevych, a Ukraine expert at Chatham House. “Zelenskyy is vulnerable. Both the U.S. and Russia (saw) the domestic scandal and decided to put more pressure on him to concede to a Russian plan.”
despite the pressure, zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to unite, stating, “It will be much easier for me to achieve a decent peace for us … knowing that the nation of Ukraine is behind me.” Though, European allies are reportedly defending Ukraine and voicing opposition to the proposed plan, possibly mitigating some of the pressure.
