URGENT UPDATE: The Ukrainian American community in Philadelphia has vehemently rejected a newly proposed peace plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which rallygoers claim capitulates to Russian demands. A significant protest took place earlier today, November 23, 2025, outside the Ukrainian American Citizens’ Association in North Philadelphia, where demonstrators condemned the 28-point “peace plan” proposed by Washington and Moscow.
Waving Ukrainian flags and holding signs reading “Appeasement Isn’t Peace,” protesters expressed outrage over the plan’s stipulations, which include calls for Ukraine to cede territory, reduce its military capabilities, and abandon its NATO aspirations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously rejected such demands, making the plan’s details particularly alarming for those gathered today.
Ulana Mazurkevich, president of the Ukrainian American Citizens’ Association, stated, “Nobody in their right mind would ask a country to give up its territory, its military, its freedoms.” Protesters fear that the plan could force Ukraine into a precarious position, balancing between maintaining sovereignty and preserving American support.
Co-organizer Mary Kalyna articulately voiced the emotional toll of the conflict, 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.” She emphasized that the issue is not merely territorial; “It’s not just dirt, there are people there,” she added, highlighting the human cost of potential concessions.
The rally featured stirring renditions of the Ukrainian national anthem, with attendees chanting “Glory to Ukraine.” Protesters also challenged the plan’s apparent immunity for Russian officials and soldiers against war crimes prosecution, with Ukrainian American Eugene Luciw passionately declaring, “The rapists, the murderers, the genocidal maniacs… are all supposed to be forgiven — absolutely no prosecutions.”
As international scrutiny of the plan intensifies, it remains unclear what immediate actions will be taken by the U.S. government. The plan, which critics label a “copy-and-paste” of Kremlin demands, is seen as a potential reward for Russia’s aggression, eliciting strong emotions from the rally participants.
The urgent call for solidarity among the Ukrainian diaspora underscores the broader implications of this peace proposal. As tensions mount and the conflict continues to evolve, the Philadelphia Ukrainian American community stands resolute against any measures perceived as compromising Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Stay tuned for live updates as this story develops and the community seeks to make their voices heard on the international stage.
