In the past few times, Donald Trump has made ever more explicit his desire for a quick solution to the conflict in Ukraine. Although the call towards peace might appear to be to be beneficial from afar however, the officials of Kyiv are cautious about it and are concerned that speedy timeframes could push Ukraine into unintended concessions, and could harm its long-term security objectives.
From international forums, to diplomacy behind the scenes, Trump and his team have indicated in their statements that they think the war should be resolved quickly. The month of July, 2025 U.S. diplomats reported that Trump demanded that a peace deal be signed within 8. August and emphasized the point that “there’s a point at which you just have to either put up or shut up.” Newsweek+1 In addition the draft “28-point plan” has surfaced that is believed to provide a quick resolution of hostilities — however, its terms are controversial. Reuters+2Wall Street Journal+2
The leadership of Ukraine believes that the issue is not with the desire for peace, but in the process and terms. Kyiv sees its mission as not just to end the conflict now however, it is to create the most sustainable and just result that safeguards its sovereignty, reclaims territories, and stops any future attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stressed his belief that “peace” cannot mean a peace-keeping war or compromise of national concerns. Reuters+1
The plan being drafted under the Trump administration reportedly contains the requirement that Ukraine must recognize large portions of its territory as falling subject to Russian control, and significantly decrease its military and forgo any future membership in NATO. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The AP News+1 Kyiv sees the plan as unacceptable. A leaked version plan has reportedly called for surrendering the entirety of Donbas as well as areas that are in Ukrainian control. Reuters+1
More than content-related, the speed of Trump’s agenda is alarming. European friends of Ukraine are restraining and warn that any “quick deal” could reward Vladimir Putin for aggression, leaving Ukraine vulnerable and threaten the transatlantic partnership. The Guardian+1 On the Ukrainian side, officials perceive that the time line as being artificially compressed. It is part of a plan to limit Ukrainian input and skew outcomes towards Russian demands.
Kyiv’s concerns are therefore twofold one is that there is a risk that U.S. may trade off the long-term interests of Ukraine to get an unpopular “peace deal”; second the possibility that Ukraine could find itself in negotiations with terms that are not its own choice, but under the pressure of an ally whose time-horizon for political action is a short one. In addition, Trump’s diplomatic strategy seems less tied with Ukrainian red lines, and more dependent on the electoral and domestic calculations, creates tension in Kyiv.
However, Ukraine has not rejected the possibility of engagement. Zelensky’s group has stated its intention to “work constructively” with Washington but insists that the fundamental principles must be defended. Reuters There is the question is how this partnership will grant Ukraine the chance to play a significant part in shaping the negotiations or force Kyiv into accepting the terms of a deal negotiated elsewhere.
In the end, Trump’s inability to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict is a contradiction for Kyiv The prospect of peace moving forward is a good thing but only if that peace is worthwhile. A agreement that is not properly crafted or executed could be seen as a sign of defeat. For Kyiv, a peace that lasts for a long time requires patience and solid guarantees, as well as the acceptance of Ukrainian priority issues and, most importantly the protection of sovereignty. In the absence of a deal that reflects these reality, Trump’s desire for a quick resolution is cause for worry rather than a source of relief.