The key facts

  • In a conversation with Fox News, Zelensky agreed to a deal with a freeze of the front line and retention of 75% of the territories
  • He rejected the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territory of Donbas
  • Earlier, Axios reported Putin's readiness to freeze the conflict in exchange for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas

Zelensky named the conditions of a peace agreement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a conversation with a Fox News journalist, expressed readiness to conclude a peace agreement with Russia if two conditions are met: freezing the conflict along the front line and Ukraine retaining 75% of its former territories. This implies that Russia would receive 25% of Ukraine's territories under the deal. When asked by the journalist whether he would agree to a peace agreement that consolidates the current state of affairs and allows Ukraine to keep 75% or more of the country's territory, Zelensky replied: “Yes <...> I think this is a realistic way to end this war.”

Position on Donbas

At the same time, the Ukrainian leader rejected the possibility of withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the territory of Donbas.

Context: statements by the Russian side

Earlier, the Axios portal reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to freeze the conflict along the front line, cease hostilities, and commit to not attempting to occupy other Ukrainian territories in exchange for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas. Press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov noted that the conflict with Ukraine could end by the end of the day if the Ukrainian Armed Forces leave the territory of Russian regions.