UPDATE: A large gathering of Ukrainian Americans in North Philadelphia erupted in protest on November 23, 2025, against a newly proposed 28-point peace plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. This plan, drafted without Ukrainian input, has been condemned as a dangerous capitulation to Russian demands.
As demonstrators waved Ukrainian flags and shouted slogans like “Appeasement Isn’t Peace,” the rally outside the Ukrainian American Citizens’ Association highlighted deep fears that the plan undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty. Rally co-organizer Mary Kalyna expressed palpable anger, stating, “It’s not just dirt; there are people there,” referring to the territories Ukraine would potentially cede.
The plan has incited outrage by suggesting Ukraine may have to surrender territory, reduce its military capabilities, and abandon its aspirations for NATO membership—conditions that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has categorically rejected in the past. “Nobody in their right mind would ask a country to give up its territory, its military, its freedoms,” said Ulana Mazurkevich, president of the association, emphasizing the emotional toll this proposal takes on a nation already suffering from years of conflict.
Protesters voiced concerns that the peace plan would leave war criminals unpunished, suggesting that Russian officials and soldiers would not face prosecution for their actions in Ukraine. “The rapists, the murderers, the genocidal maniacs … are all supposed to be forgiven,” decried protester Eugene Luciw, capturing the rally’s overarching sentiment against perceived injustice.
The urgency of this protest reflects mounting frustration within the Ukrainian community regarding the U.S. approach to the conflict, especially as it appears to prioritize diplomatic relations over Ukraine’s territorial integrity. “It’s like a reward for the aggression,” Kalyna remarked, showcasing the community’s resolve not to accept a solution that compromises their homeland.
Authorities confirm that the peace plan, which would require minimal concessions from Russia, has been met with widespread skepticism and rejection in Kyiv. As the rally concluded, participants called for greater solidarity with Ukraine and urged the U.S. government to reconsider its stance in light of the plan’s implications.
This developing story highlights the critical intersection of international diplomacy and local sentiment, as the Ukrainian American community grapples with the realities of potential territorial loss and the sacrifices made during ongoing hostilities. The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as the dialogue surrounding the peace plan continues.
