President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Friday that the country faces one of the toughest moments in its history, as international pressure mounts and Washington circulates a controversial draft peace plan.

Speaking on the Day of Dignity and Freedom, Zelensky framed the stakes bluntly in a video address that lasted 10 minutes: “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.”

The address, recorded against the backdrop of a rainy Kyiv ravaged by blackouts, came as Ukraine confirmed the receipt of a draft from US representatives on Thursday, with media reports suggesting it includes 28 points amounting to Kyiv’s surrender. A top Kyiv official said on Friday morning that Ukraine is deliberating over the deal. Reuters, citing “two people familiar with the matter,” reported Friday that parts of the strategy involve threatening to cut arms aid and intelligence crucial to Kyiv’s defense against Moscow’s invasion.

The timeline mirrors a US official’s comments to Axios that President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll had “agreed on an aggressive timeline for signature” on the deal during their meeting on Thursday. In his Friday speech, however, Zelensky said Ukraine will defend its sovereignty and national interests. He recalled the oath he took as president in 2019, pledging to protect the country’s independence and the rights of its citizens.

US threatens to cut intel, weapons to press Ukraine into peace deal, sources say:

The United States has threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons supplies for Ukraine to press it into agreeing to the framework of a US-brokered peace deal, two people familiar with the matter said. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Kyiv was under greater pressure from Washington than during any previous peace discussions, and that the U.S. wanted Ukraine to sign a framework of the deal by next Thursday.

“They want to stop the war and want Ukraine to pay the price,” one of the sources said. Washington has presented Ukraine with a 28-point plan, which endorses some of Russia’s principal demands in the war, including that Kyiv cede additional territory, curb the size of its military and be barred from joining NATO.

“Witkoff needs a psychiatrist.” Europeans react with outrage to new details of the US peace plan, warning it could wreck their efforts to