The United States has threatened to cut off intelligence and arms supplies to Ukraine in an attempt to force it to agree to the framework of a U.S.-brokered peace deal, sources told Reuters.
Washington has presented Ukraine with a 28-point plan that supports some of Russia's main demands in the war, including that Kiev cede additional territory, limit the size of its military and not be allowed to join NATO.
Sources told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity, that Kiev was under greater pressure from Washington than during any previous peace talks, and that the US wanted Ukraine to sign a framework agreement by next Thursday.
A delegation of senior U.S. military officials met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday. The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and the military's chief of public affairs traveling with the delegation described the meeting as a success and said Washington sought an "aggressive timeline" for the signing of a document between the U.S. and Ukraine.
Zelensky, who held a phone call on Friday with the leaders of allies Britain, Germany and France, appeared careful not to reject the US plan or offend Americans.
"We appreciate the efforts of the United States, President Trump and his team aimed at ending this war. We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This should be a plan that ensures a true and dignified peace," he said.
European leaders, who were not consulted on the 28-point plan, expressed their strong support for Kiev.
Moscow has already spoken in threatening tones towards Ukraine. "Kiev must make a responsible decision for a peaceful solution now, later it will be too late," said the Russian president's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, TASS reports.
He stated that the American side has some considerations regarding the peace plan, but that Russia and the US are not discussing anything specific.
"We know that there are possible modifications and approved wordings, but we have not received anything officially. Moreover, we learn something from the press, although our contacts have not been interrupted and we never interrupt them," Peskov emphasized to reporters.