US Pressures Ukraine to Cede Land as Russian Strikes Kill 26
A new US peace initiative suggests Ukraine should cede occupied territories like Crimea and major Russian-controlled regions, slash its military to 400,000, and forfeit long-range weapons—terms described as repeating Russia’s demands and rejected by Kyiv as capitulation. The proposal, reportedly linked to Trump’s administration, comes after deadly missile attacks killed 26 people, including three children, in Ternopil. President Zelensky’s outreach in Turkey failed to win US backing for the plan; while Pentagon officials visited Kyiv to discuss the ongoing conflict, Ukraine’s leaders stressed the need to strengthen defenses and maintain military capabilities. Russia now controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, and continues advancing. Ukrainian officials and international observers condemned the civilian casualties in Ternopil. The UN and Ukrainian government called for accountability in Russia’s ongoing campaign targeting residential areas, especially as winter hardship looms.
