(CLO) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready to negotiate a territorial exchange with Russia to seek a peaceful solution to the nearly three-year war.
Speaking in an interview published on February 11, Mr. Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine could cede part of Russia's Kursk region, which Kiev seized last year, in exchange for territory controlled by Moscow.
The proposal marks a shift in the stance of the Ukrainian leader, who has previously firmly ruled out ceding any territory controlled by Russia. Mr Zelenskyy stressed that all Ukrainian territories were important and he could not say specifically which areas Kiev would ask for in return.
Russian drones attack German-made Leopard tanks in Kursk region. Photo: Russian Defense Ministry
The backdrop to the potential talks comes as Russia continues its military advance in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine and carries out drone attacks on Kiev's energy infrastructure.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, its forces have taken control of an additional 3,600 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory over the past year and now control about 20 percent of Ukraine. In contrast, Ukraine controls only about 500 square kilometers in the Kursk region of western Russia.
An upcoming meeting between Mr. Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference, taking place from February 14 to 16, could shed more light on Ukraine’s direction. Mr. Vance has repeatedly criticized the US military support for Kiev, causing Ukraine to worry about Washington’s changing policy under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Mr Zelenskyy acknowledged that Europe alone could not shoulder Ukraine’s military burden, saying: “Security without the United States is not a real guarantee.” Kiev is also seeking to curry favour with the Trump administration by offering lucrative post-conflict reconstruction contracts to US companies.
Meanwhile, President Trump continues to push for a quick peace settlement, claiming progress in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House has not released details of the terms of the talks, but observers say both sides will have to make concessions to reach an agreement.
Aside from the territorial issue, another notable move was Russia’s release of American citizen Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021 on drug charges. The move was hailed by Trump as a “goodwill gesture” by Moscow and could signal that talks between Washington and the Kremlin are moving more positively.
Ngoc Anh (according to AFP, DPA, Politico)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ukraine-can-nhac-trao-doi-lanh-tho-voi-nga-de-cham-dut-chien-tranh-post334117.html
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