Zelenskyy May Be 'Shown the Door' as He Balks at Endorsing U.S-Russian Peace Plan
Nov. 20—Sources close to the White House report that NATO’s Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be forced from office if he fails to endorse an emerging U.S.-Russian peace plan that would end NATO’s losing, murderous war against Russia in Ukraine. The new plan was reported yesterday by Axios and has since been covered elsewhere.
Zelenskyy flew to Istanbul for what was to be a three-way meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, where he was expected to endorse the outline of the 28-point peace proposal. Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, trusted by President Vladimir Putin, had been working on the plan secretly for months, since the Alaska summit. Sources stressed the plan closely follows what was discussed between President Donald Trump and Putin in Alaska in August.
Key Elements of the Proposal
The proposal requires Ukraine to accept its losing battlefield position and, in exchange for a ceasefire, agree to Russian control over the Donbas and Crimea. Ukraine would also relinquish about 14% of land it still holds in four eastern oblasts that, by referendum, joined the Russian Federation. This area would be demilitarized. In Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, current lines of control would largely be frozen, with Russia returning some land subject to negotiation.
According to a U.S. official cited by Axios, the White House view is that Ukraine is likely to lose the territory anyway if the war continues and “therefore it is in Ukraine’s interest to reach a deal now.” Other sources confirmed this, contradicting NATO and British intelligence assessments that Ukraine could hold its own.
Ukraine would also agree to restrictions on the size of its military. While permitted to join the European Union, it would renounce ambitions to join NATO.
Security Guarantees and New Architecture
The agreement would amount to a non-aggression pact between Ukraine and Russia, as well as between Russia and NATO, which would halt eastward expansion. The United States would provide security guarantees to Ukraine against possible Russian attack, and to Europe against Russian aggression, while also guaranteeing Russia against NATO or Ukrainian attack.
These guarantees would define a new security architecture for Europe and beyond, which would provide a supportive framework for economic reconstruction of Ukraine. A source close to the White House said: “We are talking about creating a new era of peace and prosperity that is both doable now and sustainable for the future. We believe that the Russians are absolutely committed to this.”
Dmitriev told Axios: “It’s actually a much broader framework, basically saying, ‘How do we really bring, finally, lasting security to Europe, not just Ukraine.’”
Ukrainian Negotiations and Second Thoughts
The new plan was discussed last weekend in Miami with a Ukrainian team led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who met with Witkoff and a senior Qatari official. Turkey and Qatar are expected to play mediating roles in discussions between Russia and Ukraine. Umerov, empowered by Zelenskyy to negotiate, and his suggestions had been incorporated suggestions into the draft document, which was then presented to the Russians. It was believed the Ukrainian dictator was prepared to accept the plan.
But sources report Zelenskyy, who had fled Ukraine amid collapsing frontlines in the east and a corruption scandal involving close associates and whose scope was still expanding, seeking refuge in friendly NATO capitals where he is treated as a “hero," suddenly began to have second thoughts Encouraged by the British and supported by France and Germany, he was offered their alternative “peace plan,” offering no concessions to Russia, which has no support in the White House or Moscow, though it may have some backing in the swamp that is the U.S. State Department.
When Zelenskyy arrived Nov. 19 in Turkey, he was “carrying this bag of shit” handed him by his NATO controllers, which he would demand to e the subject of discussion with Witkoff and the Turkish Foreign Minister. He now repeated his mantra that he would concede “not one inch” of Ukrainian soil to the “Russian aggressor” and would not abandon NATO membership. He had said such things a week earlier, when he had broken off all talks with Russia, including on prisoner exchanges that had already been agreed to. He had said that he was going to Istanbul with the idea of renewing his efforts for peace, which had in the past meant, continuing his losing war.
Witkoff then cancelled plans to fly to Turkey to attend the meeting.
Corruption Allegations and Power Struggles
After the cancellation, a Ukrainian official attempted damage control, confirming Umerov was briefed orally but denying acceptance of the plan. He confirmed Zelensky sent Umerov to be briefed about the U.S. plan. but said it was an oral briefing and Umerov didn't receive a written proposal from Witkoff. The Ukrainian official denied that Zelensky's adviser accepted the terms of the plan during the meeting and claimed Ukraine objects to many of the points.
Sources report Zelenskyy intended his chief of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, to attend. Yermak is reported to be the kingpin of Zelenskyy's empire of corruption, which goes far beyond the hundreds of millions of dollars in defense contracts and related kickbacks already reported. Yermak reportedly oversees for the Ukrainian dictator the world's largest arms bazaar, where billions of dollars in American supplied weapons are available to drug cartels, terrorists, and anyone who has cash.
Yermak reportedly went to London to meet his British controllers and Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former head of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Zaluzhnyi, a critic of Zelenskyy, who has pledged silence “while the war continues.” Sources report that Zaluzhnyi has maintained contact with commanders on the ground, and that they have told him that they have urged that Zelenskyy take Trump's deal to end the war, before the frontlines totally collapse under relentless Russian attack and lack of manpower reinforcements. He has been told that paid "fighters" from the Mexican and other cartels are on the frontlines—paid for with American money.
Potential Leadership Change
During his time as commander, Zaluzhnyi had authorized contacts with his Russian counterparts on ending the war. He was reportedly dismissed by Zelenskyy for refusing to shut down these back channels. While he is "no great shakes," said a source, Zaluzhnyi is regarded as a possible replacement for the Ukrainian dictator and it is thought that he would accept a peace deal, blaming the defeat of Ukraine on the former children's television clown Zelenskyy.
Some sources report that Yermak might be trying to negotiate an exit strategy for himself and Zelenskyy with the General. Yermak had been expected to return to Ukraine with Zelenskyy, following the latter's meeting with yesterday with Turkish President Erdogan. That will not happen now, these sources report.
For now, Witkoff continues refining the Trump-Putin plan with Russian counterparts and briefing Europeans to build consensus. Sources say Zelenskyy will be given “some time, but not a lot to see if he will come to his senses and endorse the plan."
Summit Preparations and Musk Factor
Meanwhile, preparations continue for a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest next month, where the plan may be unveiled if agreements are reached. The goal is to immediately stop the fighting, which sources claim is killing nearly 10,000 soldiers a week on both sides, with a ceasefire in place, which Putin would agree to as part of a broader peace plan.
"Trump will not wait for Zelenskyy forever," said a source. "If he continues to resist, he will be shown the door. Trump has the ability to do that by making certain demands." The source said the Trump is prepared to demand, in the wake of the current scandals, that there be a full accounting of what happened to all aid given Ukraine. The source reported that it is highly significant that there now has been a full rapprochement between Trump and trillionaire Elon Musk, which was evidence by the unsolicited praise for Musk during Trump's White House discussions with Saudi Prime Mohammed bin Salman.
Musk famously headed the White House's DOGE efficiency campaign. Trump has repeatedly said that he would "love" to send Musk into Kyiv to sort out "the mess" there. There are reports that he brought this up once again, when he was briefed on the recent antics of Zelenskyy blocking peace. "It may be time for Zelenskyy to start packing," said the source. "The clock is ticking for him."