A major shift tonight in Ukraine’s stance on peace negotiations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that Kyiv may be prepared to allow Russia to retain the territory it already occupies, as part of a European-backed framework aimed at halting the war.
The move comes just days before a high-stakes meeting in Alaska between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Western diplomats say discussions over the weekend focused on freezing the battle lines where they currently stand — effectively giving Russia de facto control over areas in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea.
Zelenskyy, however, drew a sharp line. He urged European leaders to reject any peace proposal that would involve ceding additional Ukrainian territory. Speaking Monday, he warned that Russia is still preparing for new offensives despite talk of negotiations.
European allies, including Poland, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, have voiced strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, “State borders cannot be changed by force. Russia’s war must not bring benefits to the aggressor.”
Still, concerns are growing in Kyiv and across Europe that Trump and Putin could strike a deal without fully involving Ukraine. Trump has suggested he will push for some form of territorial swaps in his talks with Putin, saying he hopes to get back “some of the land” for Ukraine.
European leaders are now racing to coordinate a united front before Trump’s meeting with Putin on Friday. A joint declaration from Brussels stressed that any peace deal must include long-term security guarantees for Ukraine — including weapons deliveries and a pathway toward NATO membership.
But Ukraine faces tough challenges. Under its constitution, President Zelenskyy cannot formally give up land without a nationwide referendum. At the same time, Russia continues to occupy roughly 20 percent of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory.
Analysts warn that Moscow has not changed its ultimate goals: toppling Kyiv’s Western-aligned government and installing a Kremlin-friendly regime. The Institute for the Study of War says Russia still seeks Ukraine’s “full capitulation.”
In London, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said any peace must be built with Ukraine’s consent, not imposed from outside. They underscored support for Ukraine’s independence and self-determination.
As the clock ticks down to the Trump-Putin summit, Europe and Ukraine are scrambling to strengthen their diplomatic hand — determined that Ukraine’s fate not be decided over its head.
Reporting by Lisa Lomami.
