UPDATE: Tensions soared in Philadelphia as members of the Ukrainian American community held an emergency rally on November 23, 2025, to vehemently oppose a newly proposed 28-point peace plan designed to end the war in Ukraine. Protesters gathered outside the Ukrainian American Citizens’ Association, denouncing the plan for allegedly yielding to Russian demands and compromising Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Participants waved Ukrainian flags and displayed signs reading, “Appeasement Isn’t Peace,” condemning the proposal as a “copy-and-paste” of Moscow’s requests. The plan suggests Ukraine cede territory, reduce its military presence, and abandon aspirations for NATO membership—demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected.
“No one in their right mind would ask a country to give up its territory, its military, its freedoms,” stated Ulana Mazurkevich, president of the Ukrainian American Citizens’ Association. She emphasized the emotional toll this plan could take, stating that it forces Ukraine to choose between its sovereignty and American support.
Co-organizer Mary Kalyna expressed deep frustration, saying, “We will rebuild but it won’t be the same, and I just feel such pain and anger at how much they have taken from us over and over again. It’s not just dirt; there are people there.” She denounced the plan as a reward for aggression that Ukrainians will not accept.
Amid chants of “Glory to Ukraine” and renditions of the national anthem, protesters highlighted another controversial aspect of the plan—its provisions likely preventing accountability for Russian officials and soldiers accused of war crimes. “The rapists, the murderers, the genocidal maniacs … are all supposed to be forgiven—absolutely no prosecutions,” lamented Ukrainian American Eugene Luciw.
The proposed peace plan, crafted without Ukrainian input, is seen as a potential disaster for an already devastated Ukraine. While it offers international security guarantees and reconstruction assistance to Kyiv, it demands concessions that could severely undermine Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
As this situation unfolds, the urgency for the Ukrainian American community reflects broader concerns about the implications for international law and the integrity of U.S. foreign policy. The rally signals a powerful collective voice against perceived appeasement—a sentiment that is resonating far beyond the streets of Philadelphia.
What’s Next: With significant backlash from both the Ukrainian community and global leaders, the fate of the peace plan remains uncertain. Observers will closely watch upcoming discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials that may shape the future of Ukraine and its allies.
