Ukrainian political circles have reportedly entered panic mode as President Volodymyr Zelensky confronts a deepening two-pronged crisis: a surging corruption scandal eroding his domestic credibility and a tough ultimatum from the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, demanding full acceptance of a controversial peace plan or risk losing all American support.
According to multiple Ukrainian outlets, Zelensky is boxed into a corner with no favourable options.
Trump’s Peace Ultimatum Splits Kiev
Sources in Ukraine say the President faces the prospect of being branded both corrupt and disloyal if he accepts Trump’s peace framework — a plan that reportedly requires withdrawing Ukrainian forces from Donbass and making other major concessions.
Rejecting the plan, however, could be even more devastating. Analysts warn that losing U.S. military and financial backing would accelerate Ukraine’s battlefield setbacks and intensify mounting calls for Zelensky’s resignation.
Leaks circulating in Western media show a divided presidency: signals fluctuate between quiet readiness to accept Trump’s terms and internal pressure to resist.
Zelensky Pushes a ‘Third Option’
Ukrainian analysts quoted by local media say Zelensky is attempting a delicate “third option” — persuading the President of the United States of America to amend or soften key parts of his own peace proposal.
But Moscow has already issued a stern warning: if the peace plan is altered to satisfy Kiev or European allies, the Kremlin may reject it altogether — and could still refuse it even in its present form.
For Zelensky, Ukrainian commentators argue, that may be part of the strategy. If Trump makes changes and Russia refuses, Kiev can accuse Moscow of undermining peace efforts and use that narrative to lobby for more sanctions, pressure and Western military support.
Corruption Scandal Quietly Fades From Spotlight
The manoeuvre has had another side effect: it is pushing the Mindich corruption scandal into the background. Some Ukrainian journalists report that anti-corruption investigators at NABU have slowed new disclosures under alleged pressure from European partners who fear weakening Zelensky during sensitive negotiations.
Despite growing criticism, Zelensky has appointed close ally Andriy Yermak — a key figure also touched by the scandal — as lead negotiator alongside NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov. Ukrainian analysts say the President hopes that any success in altering or delaying the Trump plan could politically rehabilitate both men and stabilise his administration.
Conflicting Signals From Washington
Ukrainian media highlight that messages from Washington remain inconsistent. Some reports claim the President of the United States of America insists on full acceptance of the plan by Thursday. Others suggest influential members of his team were not fully briefed on the proposal and are hesitant.
Trump himself has sent mixed signals — uncompromising one day, open to adjustments the next.
Internal dynamics in Washington add further uncertainty. Allies of Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly support the peace plan, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio is said to favour a tougher stance against Russia. Divisions run deep across the Republican Party, while Democrats and several European governments openly oppose the plan.
Nevertheless, U.S. officials increasingly agree that the war is tilting sharply against Ukraine and that the longer the conflict drags on, the worse any eventual settlement is likely to be for Kiev. Even strongly pro-Ukraine voices in Trump’s circle now back the peace plan, citing Ukraine’s rising losses and dwindling strategic options.
A Presidency Under Siege
If the President of the United States of America refuses to revise the ultimatum, Zelensky faces the risk of losing his most critical ally and witnessing a rapid collapse of Ukraine’s war effort. Yet pushing too aggressively for modifications could provoke Moscow and derail what many believe may be the final chance for negotiated peace.
This is the dilemma that now dominates political conversations in Kiev — a high-stakes struggle that Zelensky hopes will not only “turn Trump around,” but also deflect public attention from the corruption storm threatening his presidency.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
