Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might be willing to give up certain areas to secure peace, according to a recent report. This update comes shortly after Zelenskyy rejected the idea of any agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine without Kyiv’s involvement and consent. Their summit is scheduled for Friday.

Report Suggests Possible Territorial Concession

The Telegraph reported that Zelenskyy could agree to formally cede areas that are already under Russian control. By the end of July, Russia held about 19 percent of Ukraine’s land. This includes Crimea, which Moscow invaded and took over in 2014.

However, Zelenskyy has made it clear that he will not hand over any land that Ukraine still controls.

Freezing the Current Battlelines

If Zelenskyy accepts such a deal, it would essentially freeze the conflict where it stands. This would give Putin significant parts of eastern Ukraine and confirm Russia’s hold on Crimea.

But this offer might not satisfy Putin. His larger demands go beyond the land Russia currently occupies. He claims all four provinces he declared as part of Russia in 2022 — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. While Russia controls much of Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukraine still holds significant areas in those regions, and heavy fighting continues.

Conditions for Peace

Zelenskyy will only accept a peace agreement if it includes strong security guarantees. These guarantees would involve steady arms supplies and a clear path toward joining NATO, according to The Telegraph.

The report also stated that this plan has the backing of Ukraine’s European allies, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.

A Western official told the newspaper, “Europeans now understand their role as supportive of Ukraine in terms of the diplomatic negotiations. It’s a boost for morale, it’s also strengthening the diplomatic positions of Ukraine so that it doesn’t feel alone.”