US threatens to cut intel, arms to press Ukraine to make deal

Russia backs US peace plan. Kyiv says US plan will force it to lose either dignity or its key ally. Germany, UK, France back Kyiv; Italy backs US effort

- Agencies

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, Reuters reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow had received the US proposals for peace in Ukraine and that the plan could be the basis of a peaceful resolution of the conflict. “I believe that it could lay the foundation for a final peace settlement,” he said, adding that Russia will seize more territory if Kyiv rejects the proposal.

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.

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 US wanted Ukraine to sign a framework of the deal by next Thursday.

President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that his administration has set a deadline for next Thursday for Ukraine to agree to the plan, CNN reported. “I’ve had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines. But Thursday is it,” he said.