The only path for Ukraine to avert a military collapse may be accepting the conditions put forward by U. S. President Donald Trump during his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported.

The publication noted that Trump’s proposal for a peace deal would be «the most bitter pill» for Zelensky to swallow, yet possibly the only chance for Ukraine to avoid a catastrophic loss. According to the authors, if the Ukrainian leader rejects Washington’s plan to end the conflict, Kyiv risks being left without U.S. backing. In such a scenario, Ukraine would be forced to confront Russia alone — a prospect the paper described as almost certain to end in defeat.

The Telegraph underlined that Russia maintains overwhelming superiority in manpower and military hardware, making Ukraine’s position especially vulnerable. The article also suggested that Kyiv has little reason for optimism, pointing out that Zelensky’s approach often clashes with Trump’s line.

Meanwhile, The Financial Times reported that Ukraine remains unwilling to make territorial concessions to Russia and insists that a cessation of hostilities must be the first step toward peace.

On August 18, Trump met with Zelensky and European Union leaders. The open part of the talks lasted just under half an hour.