The White House got out its stick and threatened to cut Ukraine off from its intelligence and arms supplies if Bankova rejects a proposed 28-point peace plan floated earlier this week, Reuters reports citing two sources familiar with the talks on November 21.

Ukraine remains completely dependent on US satellite intelligence for real time reporting on Russia’s position on the battlefield, which is used to both target their positions for artillery and countering Russian assaults. The EU does not have this capability.

The state is producing millions of drones and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last month that Ukraine now supplies 60% of its own munitions, up from 40% at the start of the year, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) still remains almost entirely dependent on the US for air defence ammo and long-range missiles.

The US is in a rush and wants to close the 28-point plan before Thanksgiving on November 27 and end the war before the Christmas holidays, according to reports. However, although he was careful to praise US President Donald Trump in a meeting with US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on November 20, who has been in charge of supplying Ukraine with most of its weapons under the Biden and Trump administrations, Zelenskiy has made it clear he does not accept the deal in the current form and is reportedly working on a counteroffer.

At the same time the EU has rejected the one sided approach thrashed out between Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev three weeks ago at the end of October in Miami.

Trump is clearly increasingly frustrated at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to make compromises and Zelenskiy interagency to concede territory or abandon his Nato ambitions and so appears to be forcing the issue with this ultimatum.

Reuters’ sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the pressure from Washington is “greater than during any previous peace discussions,” and that the Biden administration expects Ukraine to sign a framework agreement before the US holiday.

“They want to stop the war and want Ukraine to pay the price,” one of the sources said.

The proposed plan represents many of Putin’s demands and makes very few concessions to Kyiv. Many commentators have billed it as a demand for Ukraine's capitulation. The demands include requiring Ukraine to cede additional territory, reduce the size of its armed forces, and formally abandon aspirations of joining Nato – all red lines for Zelenskiy.

Zelenskiy met Driscoll in Kyiv on November 20 to discuss the proposal's terms. According to the US ambassador to Ukraine and the head of army public affairs accompanying the delegation, the meeting was “successful,” and Washington is seeking an “aggressive timeline” to finalise the agreement.

The development follows mounting political pressure in Washington to bring the war to a conclusion, amid growing scepticism in Congress about the sustainability of long-term support for Ukraine.

Analysts warn that if the US reduces military and intelligence support, Ukraine’s already deteriorating battlefield position could weaken further just as the winter snows arrive.