BREAKING: The Ukrainian American community in Philadelphia is voicing strong opposition to a controversial peace plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Protesters gathered outside the Ukrainian American Citizens’ Association on November 23, 2025, denouncing the 28-point peace plan developed by Washington and Moscow, which many view as capitulating to Russian demands.
During the urgent rally, attendees waved Ukrainian flags and held signs reading, “Appeasement Isn’t Peace.” Demonstrators expressed outrage over the plan, which they argue demands that Ukraine cede territory, reduce its military capabilities, and abandon its aspirations for NATO membership—conditions that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously rejected.
“Nobody 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. The plan, they argue, not only undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty but may also force the country to choose between maintaining support from its American allies and preserving its national integrity.
Emotions ran high as rally co-organizer Mary Kalyna shared her pain and anger: “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.” Kalyna emphasized that the conflict is not just about land, stating, “It’s not just dirt, there are people there.”
The proposed plan has drawn criticism for allowing Russian officials and soldiers to escape prosecution for war crimes, further infuriating protesters. Eugene Luciw, a Ukrainian American, condemned the implications of the agreement: “The rapists, the murderers, the genocidal maniacs… are all supposed to be forgiven—absolutely no prosecutions.”
While the peace initiative suggests that Ukraine would receive international security guarantees and reconstruction assistance, the terms appear to favor Russia significantly. The protesters argue that the plan would do little to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the nearly four-year conflict.
As the situation develops, attention is now focused on how Ukrainian officials will respond to the proposed peace plan and the potential ramifications for international relations. The rally in Philadelphia serves as a reminder of the deep emotional and political stakes involved in the ongoing war, as the community calls for a resolution that truly respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and human rights.
Stay tuned for further updates on this urgent situation as the rally represents a critical moment for the Ukrainian American community and their fight for justice.
