Zelensky Says Kyiv Will Work ‘Together With America and Europe’ After Vance Call

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv would work “together with America and Europe” to strike a peace deal after an hour-long phone conversation with US Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

The Ukrainian president said that he had “managed to discuss many details of the American side’s proposal to end the war” in the talks, adding “we are trying to make the further path worthy and truly effective to achieve lasting peace.”

“Ukraine has always respected and respects President Trump’s desire to end the bloodshed, and we perceive positively every realistic proposal,” Zelensky continued.

“We agreed to be in constant contact, and the teams are ready to work 24/7,” he finished.

Vance and Zelensky have not always enjoyed friendly ties, and the US vice president led the charge against the Ukrainian leader in a vicious spat at the Oval Office earlier this year.

The vice president has not yet commented on the call but said in October that Russia and Ukraine were “just not at the point where they can make a deal,” calling the conflict “a tough nut to crack.”

It came after US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that Kyiv has until Thursday to accept the terms of a new US-Russia brokered peace deal which has drawn outcry in Ukraine and Europe.

The US president said: “I’ve had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines. But Thursday is it.”

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G7 leaders said they had found new unity on increasing pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine, with European leaders pointing to a tougher line from US President Donald Trump. The summit statement pledged more air defense support for Kyiv and stronger sanctions on Moscow’s war economy.

Washington has reportedly threatened to withdraw the supply of weapons and intelligence to Kyiv unless it agrees to sign the US-Russia brokered deal.

Zelensky said in a solemn address to the Ukrainian people that the country faces a difficult choice between “the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner.”

“Either the difficult 28 points, or an extremely harsh winter. A life without freedom, without dignity, without justice. And to trust someone who has already attacked us twice,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian president had held a conference call with the leaders of Germany, France and the UK to discuss the plan.

“We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace. We are coordinating closely to make sure that the principled stances are taken into account,” Zelensky wrote on X after the talks.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz following the call that although he welcomes the US commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, the contact line “must remain the basis for any talks”, implying a rejection of the US position on territorial concessions by Kyiv.