CHICAGO — As Russia continues to reject a revised peace initiative, many Ukrainian-Americans in the Chicago region remain skeptical about the prospects for peace in the near future.

However, some residents view the increasing criticism from Republicans in Congress towards the Trump administration’s approach to peace negotiations as a positive development.

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In Chicago’s Ukrainian Village, the commitment to resisting Russian aggression has remained steadfast, even as the conflict nears its fourth year. The community stands firm in their resolve not to cede territory to Russia.

“Our mission is clear: we must win this war. Giving up our land is simply not an option,” expressed Vitaliy Kutnyy, CEO of Self Reliance Federal Credit Union.

Self Reliance Federal Credit Union serves as a financial institution catering to the Ukrainian community.

“Ukrainians are not going to give up territories, not going to give up their freedom. If they wanted to concede that would happen back in 2022,” said Dr. Mariya Dmytriv Kapeniak, Ukrainian Congress Committee Illinois Division president.

Both say Ukrainians back home and living in the United States continue to strongly support Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to ABC News, the Ukrainian president has accepted a revised peace plan. The original 28-point plan brokered by the Trump administration was widely criticized for being too one-sided in favor of Russia.

“The positive is the whole Europe finally came together as one block. And they had; they all participated in negotiations with United States,” Dmytriv Kapeniak said.

Europeans and some Republicans in Congress spoke out against the original peace plan.

The Trump administration tweaked it and presented it to Russia, but Russia responded with more attacks on Ukraine.

Kutnyy is now doubtful a peace plan will work without Russia agreeing to a ceasefire. Dmytriv Kapeniak says the United States must include Europe on any plan.

“The solution is in United States working with Europe to end this war, to put pressure on Putin and because that’s the only person that really can end this war,” Dmytriv Kapeniak said.

Ukrainians in Illinois hope the Thanksgiving holiday does not slow down any momentum or public attention given to the peace talks this week.