Former President Donald Trump’s proposed Ukraine peace plan — which he has touted as the “fastest solution to end the war” — is facing fierce backlash and an uncertain future after Russian President Vladimir Putin issued one of his most chilling statements yet, vowing that Russia is prepared to continue fighting “until the last Ukrainian dies.”
The shocking remark, which Putin made during a televised address from Moscow, has been interpreted by Western leaders as a direct rejection of Trump’s diplomatic overtures and a terrifying signal that Russia intends to prolong the bloodshed regardless of international pressure. “We will not stop halfway,” Putin declared, according to Reuters. “Russia will defend its interests until the last Ukrainian dies for the West’s mistakes.”
The grim rhetoric came just days after Trump, in a Fox News interview, claimed he could “end the war in 24 hours” if re-elected — a boast that immediately drew skepticism from both Kyiv and Washington. His plan reportedly involves suspending U.S. military aid to Ukraine while pushing for an immediate ceasefire and territorial negotiations with the Kremlin. But analysts now say Putin’s statement leaves no room for compromise.
“Putin just said the quiet part out loud — that he’s willing to fight until Ukraine no longer exists.” @guardian
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded within hours, calling Putin’s comments “a confession of genocide” and warning that any peace deal made without Ukraine’s full sovereignty would be “a deal with the devil.” Speaking to BBC News, Zelensky said, “You cannot negotiate with someone who proudly speaks of death as a goal.”
Trump’s proposal — details of which were first leaked to The New York Times — has reportedly alarmed European allies, who fear it would force Kyiv to surrender large portions of occupied territory in exchange for a fragile ceasefire. A senior NATO diplomat described the plan as “a fantasy that rewards aggression.”
“Putin isn’t looking for peace,” the diplomat told Politico. “He’s looking for victory — and humiliation for the West. Trump’s approach would hand him both.”
In Washington, even some Republicans are uneasy about Trump’s strategy. Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters that “ending the war” cannot come at the expense of Ukraine’s survival. “If you give Putin an inch, he’ll take Europe,” Graham said. “We’ve seen this movie before.”
“‘Until the last Ukrainian dies’ — Putin’s words send chills through world capitals as Trump’s peace plan falters.” @reuters
Meanwhile, Kremlin insiders have described Putin’s recent tone as “emboldened” following Ukraine’s stalled counteroffensive and growing fatigue among Western governments over funding the war. According to The Financial Times, Russian state media has been mocking Trump’s “peace plan,” claiming that “Moscow will not be dictated to by American politicians seeking re-election.”
Experts say Putin’s latest threat is both psychological warfare and political messaging — a way to signal defiance while testing Western unity. “Putin knows Trump’s rhetoric plays into his hands,” explained geopolitical analyst Fiona Hill, who served as a Russia advisor under the Trump administration. “Every time Trump suggests cutting U.S. support for Ukraine, the Kremlin hears validation.”
Publicly, Trump’s team has defended the former president’s comments, arguing that his plan emphasizes “common sense over endless war.” In a statement to Axios, a campaign spokesperson said, “President Trump is the only leader with the strength to bring peace through power. Biden’s weakness has fueled global chaos.”
However, Ukrainian officials have warned that Trump’s proposal would effectively “freeze” the conflict in Russia’s favor. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told The Independent, “Any plan that accepts occupation is not peace — it is surrender dressed up as diplomacy.”
In Europe, leaders are bracing for renewed instability as winter approaches. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Putin’s latest remarks as “a declaration of extermination,” while French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the Kremlin is “testing the moral limits of humanity.” “When a leader speaks of fighting until an entire people are gone,” Macron said via France24, “that is no longer war — it is annihilation.”
“European leaders denounce Putin’s remarks as genocidal rhetoric — and question Trump’s silence.” @people
Social media has erupted with anger and disbelief. On X, the hashtag #PutinThreat trended alongside #UkrainePeace as users expressed horror over the Russian leader’s remarks and skepticism toward Trump’s proposed deal. “You can’t make peace with someone who celebrates death,” one user wrote. “Putin doesn’t want peace — he wants a graveyard.”
Inside Ukraine, morale remains defiant despite the grim headlines. Soldiers on the front line told The Kyiv Post they see Putin’s words as proof that the world must not abandon them. “We’re not fighting just for land,” one soldier said. “We’re fighting to exist.”
For now, Trump’s camp insists he can still deliver peace “where Biden has failed.” But with Putin openly rejecting compromise and framing the war as a battle of annihilation, global analysts say Trump’s plan may already be dead on arrival. “There’s no peace to be made with a man who wants Ukraine erased from the map,” said former diplomat Bill Taylor. “And that’s exactly what Putin just said out loud.”
