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CHICAGO (WLS) — As Russia pushes back against a revised peace proposal, Ukrainian-Americans around Chicago express skepticism about the prospect of peace anytime soon.
Meanwhile, some see a positive shift as more Republican voices in Congress criticize the Trump administration’s approach to negotiating a settlement.
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In Ukrainian Village, the resolve to continue the fight without ceding land to Russia remains steadfast, even as the conflict approaches its fourth anniversary.
“The mission has the community’s support; we must win this war and hold onto our land,” stated Vitaliy Kutnyy, CEO of Self Reliance Federal Credit Union.
Self Reliance Federal Credit Union serves as a financial institution for Ukrainians.
“Ukrainians are steadfast in not surrendering territory or their liberty. If they were inclined to do so, it would have happened back in 2022,” remarked Dr. Mariya Dmytriv Kapeniak, president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee Illinois Division.
Both say Ukrainians back home and living in the United States continue to strongly support Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to ABC News, the Ukrainian president has accepted a revised peace plan. The original 28-point plan brokered by the Trump administration was widely criticized for being too one-sided in favor of Russia.
“The positive is the whole Europe finally came together as one block. And they had; they all participated in negotiations with United States,” Dmytriv Kapeniak said.
Europeans and some Republicans in Congress spoke out against the original peace plan.
The Trump administration tweaked it and presented it to Russia, but Russia responded with more attacks on Ukraine.
Kutnyy is now doubtful a peace plan will work without Russia agreeing to a ceasefire. Dmytriv Kapeniak says the United States must include Europe on any plan.
“The solution is in United States working with Europe to end this war, to put pressure on Putin and because that’s the only person that really can end this war,” Dmytriv Kapeniak said.
Ukrainians in Illinois hope the Thanksgiving holiday does not slow down any momentum or public attention given to the peace talks this week.
