Ukraine is under increasing pressure from Washington to agree to the framework of the peace agreement with Russia than in all previous attempts at negotiations. This was reported to "Reuters" by two sources familiar with the progress of the negotiations.
According to them, the Donald Trump administration has also issued a direct threat: if Kiev does not accept the basics of the US plan, the US may terminate intelligence support and arms supplies.
One of the sources, who requested anonymity, specifies that Washington is insisting that Ukraine sign the framework of the deal by next Thursday, which coincides with the deadline set by other US sources — before Thanksgiving.
The current pressure is not an isolated incident. This is not the first time that President Donald Trump has used intelligence information as a tool for political pressure on Ukraine.
After his sharp public clash with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on February 28 of this year, Trump ordered a temporary suspension of intelligence briefings and operational data that American services provide daily to Kiev.
White House advisers warned at the time that such a step could put Ukrainian positions at risk, but the US president insisted that the intelligence exchange be "reviewed".
Although later restored, the limitation of aid and intelligence data to Russian progress on the front and provoked sharp criticism from Kiev and European partners.
Reuters sources emphasize that the current pressure is much more aggressive than previous negotiation attempts: "The United States is leaving no room for delay this time. The message is clear: sign the framework — or lose support."
In Kiev, the information is seen as an attempt to expedite the finalization of the 28-point US-Russian peace plan, which was presented to Ukraine earlier this week. Ukrainian authorities have already announced that they are studying the document, but have expressed reservations on key issues related to territorial concessions, the status of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and security guarantees.