CaliToday (25/11/2025): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on Monday that Russia must "pay in full" for its invasion, issuing a stark reminder of Kyiv's red lines just as the United States agreed to significantly revise a contentious peace proposal following intense weekend negotiations.
In a video address to the Swedish Parliament, Zelensky argued that financial retribution and the seizure of Russian assets are non-negotiable components of any deal to end the war that began in 2022.
“The aggressor must pay in full for the war he started, and this is why decisions on Russian assets are essential,” Zelensky stated. He characterized the seizure of frozen Russian funds not merely as reparations, but as a prerequisite for any serious diplomatic framework.
His comments served as a sharp counter-narrative to a leaked 28-point peace plan attributed to the Trump Administration last Thursday a plan Zelensky implicitly rejected for its heavy reliance on territorial concessions.
“Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen, to break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty. That is the main issue,” Zelensky urged.
A Breakthrough in Geneva: The "Refined" Framework
Zelensky’s defiance comes on the heels of a critical diplomatic shift. Following high-stakes talks in Geneva between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, the United States has agreed to amend its initial peace roadmap.
In a joint statement released Sunday, both nations confirmed that the negotiations resulted in "meaningful progress in aligning positions." Crucially, the U.S. conceded to draft an "updated" version of the plan.
“The parties have drafted an updated and refined peace framework,” the statement read. In a display of diplomatic maneuvering, the Ukrainian delegation also reaffirmed its gratitude for the "unwavering commitment" of the U.S. and personally thanked President Donald J. Trump for his efforts to stop the bloodshed.
While specific details of the "refined" text remain under wraps, the two sides have committed to intensive work in the coming days, promising close coordination with European partners.
Europe Reacts: Relief and Division
The diplomatic ripple effects were felt immediately across Europe. For some, the revision of the U.S. plan was hailed as a victory for European sovereignty.
German senior lawmaker Johann Wadephul described the Geneva outcome as a "decisive success" for Europeans. Speaking to Deutschlandfunk radio on Monday, Wadephul revealed a critical change: "All issues concerning Europe, including those related to NATO, were removed from this plan... It was clear from the beginning, as we have repeatedly said, that any agreement must not be reached over the heads of Europeans and Ukraine."
Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb struck a more cautious tone following a call with Zelensky, noting that while steps were taken toward a "just and lasting peace," significant "unresolved issues" remain.
However, the European bloc remains fractured. Hungary, maintaining its close ties to Moscow, urged immediate acceptance of the proposal. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the plan a "huge opportunity," accusing Western European leaders of obstructionism. "Our position is clear: every European politician has an obligation to support this plan fully and unconditionally," Szijjártó insisted.
The "Russian Wishlist" Controversy
Back in Washington, the origins of the original 28-point draft remain a source of fierce debate. Several U.S. Senators have openly questioned whether the document was penned by American officials at all.
"This looks like it was written in Russian to begin with," said Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) at a security conference in Canada. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) went further, claiming Senator Marco Rubio had described the draft not as an Administration plan, but as a "Russian wishlist."
Rubio has vehemently denied these characterizations, insisting the proposal was authored by the U.S. as a "robust framework," albeit one based on input from both Russian and Ukrainian sides.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin claims to be in the dark regarding the latest U.S. revisions. "We have not received anything official yet," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media TASS on Monday.
The Core Conflict: Land for Peace
The heart of the friction remains the issue of land. The initial leaked draft proposed that Kyiv reduce its military and accept the de facto Russian control of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk.
Most alarmingly for military analysts, the plan suggested Ukraine withdraw from parts of the Donetsk Oblast it still controls to create a demilitarized "buffer zone."
George Barros, a senior analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), warned that such a concession would be catastrophic. He noted that Ukrainian-held Donetsk contains the country’s "best fortified, best defended terrain."
“The Russians are trying to diplomatically get Ukraine to surrender terrain that the Russian military is very unlikely to actually take through combat,” Barros told TIME. Handing over these fortifications would give Russia a "gateway into central Ukraine."
Despite President Trump’s dismissal of these concerns—claiming Ukraine has already "lost the land"—ISW analysis suggests it would take Russia nearly two years (635 to 720 days) to capture the remaining Donetsk territory by force.
The Thanksgiving Deadline
The diplomatic maneuvering is happening against a ticking clock. President Trump has reportedly issued a deadline for Zelensky to accept a deal by the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday November 27, 2025.
Tensions between the two leaderships are palpable. On Sunday, Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Ukraine's "leadership," seemingly echoing previous sentiments by Vice President J.D. Vance, who has accused Zelensky of being "ungrateful."
Zelensky, facing what he calls "one of the most difficult moments" in Ukrainian history, is now navigating a perilous path: maintaining his country's dignity and territorial integrity while trying not to lose his most vital ally.
With the Thanksgiving deadline looming, the world waits to see if the "refined" Geneva framework can bridge the chasm between Kyiv's demand for justice and Washington's demand for a deal.
Source: Zelensky Says Russia ‘Must Pay Fully’ for War in Ukraine as U.S. Agrees to Modify Peace Plan
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