Zelensky may be open to recognising Russian-held territory: What’s on the table and the price for peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could be prepared to cede parts of his country’s territory in a potential peace deal, according to a report by The Telegraph.

The reported proposal would involve Zelensky agreeing to hand over areas already under Russian control, but crucially, he has ruled out giving up any land still held by Ukraine.

The development comes shortly after Zelensky rejected any agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine’s future without Kyiv’s presence and approval.

What the plan entails

As of the end of July, Russia controlled roughly 19% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Under the reported plan, Ukraine would essentially freeze the frontlines as they stand now, allowing Moscow to retain swathes of eastern Ukraine and cement its hold over Crimea.

However, this may fall short of Putin’s ambitions. His demands extend beyond the territory Russia currently occupies to encompass all four provinces he claimed to annex in 2022 — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. While Russian forces hold much of Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukrainian troops still control significant portions of these regions, and fighting continues along active frontlines.

Conditions for a deal

According to The Telegraph, Zelensky will only agree to a settlement if it includes strong security guarantees, specifically, sustained weapons supplies and a pathway to NATO membership.

The newspaper also reported that the plan has the backing of key European allies, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.

“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,” a Western official told The Telegraph.