Zelenskyy says Ukraine has impossible choice as Trump pushes plan to end war

US president demands that Kyiv accepts plan that would mean giving up territory to Russia

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy looks into the camera while delivering a video address to the nation in Kyiv. Picture: Press Service Of The President Of Ukraine/AP

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine faces one of the most difficult moments in its history, after Donald Trump demanded Kyiv accepts within days a US-backed "peace plan" that would force it to give up territory to Russia and make other painful concessions.

Trump confirmed on Friday morning that next Thursday — Thanksgiving in the US — would be an “acceptable” deadline for Zelenskyy to sign the deal, which European and Ukrainian officials have said amounts to a “capitulation”.