Ukraine Marks Holodomor As Russia Strikes, US Peace Pressure Mounts

Ukraine marked Holodomor Remembrance Day on November 22 as Russia launched a massive overnight attack amid rising pressure on Kyiv to accept a US-proposed peace deal to end the war.

On the fourth Saturday of November, Ukrainians honor the victims of the Holodomor, the man-made famine orchestrated by the Soviet government in the 1930s that led to the deaths of millions of Ukrainians.

In a post on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said "we all know how and why" the famine happened.

"And once again we are defending ourselves against Russia -- a Russia that has not changed and once again brings death," he added.

Zelenskyy did not reference the US-drafted peace plan, but wrote, "We defended Ukraine, we defend it now, and we will always defend it. Because this is our only home. And in our home, Russia will never be the master."

Overnight, Russia attacked Ukraine with over 100 drones and a ballistic missile, striking a critical border crossing with Romania.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 89 of the 104 strike drones launched from multiple directions across Russia and occupied territories, the Ukrainian armed forces said on November 22.

However, 13 drones hit 15 locations, and one Iskander-M ballistic missile struck its target.​

A Russian drone damaged infrastructure at the Orlivka checkpoint on the Ukraine-Romania border, forcing the ferry complex to suspend operations temporarily. Two people were injured, and 11 trucks were damaged along with administrative buildings, officials reported.​

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The attacks come as US President Donald Trump pressures Ukraine to accept a 28-point peace plan by November 27, threatening to withdraw US support if Kyiv rejects the proposal.

The plan requires Ukraine to cede more than 20 percent of its territory, reduce its military from 880,000 to 600,000 troops, and abandon NATO membership aspirations.​

A high-level Ukrainian delegation led by Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, will travel to Switzerland "in the coming days" to discuss the peace plan with US officials.

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"Our representatives know how to protect Ukraine's national interests and what exactly is needed to prevent Russia from carrying out a third invasion, another blow to Ukraine," Zelenskyy said after approving the makeup of the delegation. "Real peace is always based on guaranteed security and justice."

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to welcome the US proposal, saying it could form the basis for a final peace settlement," his first public confirmation that Moscow received the plan. Putin warned that Russian forces would continue advancing if Ukraine rejects the deal.​

US Vice President JD Vance defended the framework in a post on X on November 22, outlining three requirements: stopping the killing while preserving Ukrainian sovereignty, acceptability to both sides, and maximizing chances the war doesn't restart. Vance dismissed critics as "living in a fantasy land," arguing it's unrealistic to believe "more money, more weapons, or more sanctions" would bring victory.​

"Every criticism of the peace framework the administration is working on either misunderstands the framework or misstates some critical reality on the ground," he wrote.

Meanwhile, European leaders are scrambling to respond after being blindsided by the plan, which was developed without their input.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an emergency call with Zelenskyy on November 21, affirming that "any agreement affecting European states requires approval of European partners".​

In a statement after meeting on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in South Africa, EU leaders expressed concern over the plan.

They said the draft "includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace," but added that it "will require additional work."

"We reiterate that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to NATO would need the consent of EU and NATO members, respectively," they said.

Later in the day, asked by reporters whether the US offer to end the war was a final one for Ukraine, Trump said "no."