Pressure on Ukraine to accept peace deal as Putin backs Trump plan

Zelensky warns Kiev faces 'choice between key partner or dignity'

- BY SASKIA ROWLANDS and SOPHIE HUSKISSON in Johannesburg

VOLODYMYR Zelensky vowed yesterday he would "not betray Ukraine" after Donald Trump gave him until Thursday to respond to his peace plan.

The US President's 28-point plan, which was cautiously welcomed by Kremlin despot Vladimir Putin, includes an immediate ceasefire and Ukraine giving up the entirety of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk.

Ukraine's 880,000-strong army would be cut to 600,000 and it would not be allowed to join Nato - but could become an EU member state.

Trump set Ukraine a strict deadline of November 27 Thanksgiving in the US - to respond to his plan.

Ukrainian president Zelensky said he spoke with US Vice-President JD Vance for over an hour about "achieving lasting peace".

The Ukrainian leader wrote on X: "Ukraine has always respected and continues to respect US president Donald Trump's desire to put an end to the bloodshed and we view every realistic proposal positively."