Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that Kyiv currently lacks the military capacity and allied support to retake territories under Russian control, including Crimea. His statement marks a significant shift in tone after four years of war, signaling a possible softening of Ukraine’s long-held goal to fully restore its 1991 borders.

The admission comes as Washington intensifies pressure on Kyiv to accept former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan, which aims for a deal before Christmas. According to reports, U.S. envoys held a two-hour meeting with Zelensky, urging him to respond within days. Analysts view this as a turning point, reflecting both battlefield fatigue and the limits of Western military and financial backing.

Zelensky’s remarks also highlight growing uncertainty over Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and the fragility of European support without U.S. leadership. The coming weeks may determine whether Kyiv can secure credible security guarantees and reconstruction commitments in exchange for accepting the new geopolitical reality.