President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview released this evening that Ukraine is prepared to exchange territory with Russia during any prospective peace talks, emphasizing that Europe alone cannot bear the burden of Kyiv’s war efforts.
The Ukrainian leader is scheduled to meet US Vice President JD Vance on Friday at the Munich Security Conference, as confirmed by his spokesperson to AFP, amid Washington’s push for an end to the near three-year conflict with Russia.
Mr. Vance has often criticized the essential support from the US that has been crucial for Ukraine’s military operations.
“There are voices suggesting that Europe could provide security guarantees without American involvement, and I consistently respond with a firm no,” Mr. Zelensky informed the Guardian newspaper in an interview published on its website.
A view of the damaged Lgov town after the Ukrainian army launched attacks in Kursk.
Mr. Trump is eager for both parties to reach an agreement, although the specifics are raising concerns in Ukraine.
In his conversation with the Guardian, Mr. Zelensky mentioned he would propose to Russian President Vladimir Putin the territory that Ukraine reclaimed in Russia’s Kursk region six months prior.
“We will exchange one territory for another,” he stated, noting that he was uncertain which territories he would request in return.
“I don’t know, we will see. However, all our territories hold significance; there is no priority,” he remarked.
Russia claims to have annexed five regions of Ukraine—Crimea in 2014 and then Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, and Zaporizhzhia in 2022—though it does not exert full control over them.
Contracts for US firms
Mr. Trump confirmed yesterday that he will soon send his special envoy, Keith Kellogg, to Ukraine with the responsibility of formulating a proposal to cease hostilities.
The US president is advocating for a prompt resolution to the conflict, while Mr. Zelensky is seeking robust security guarantees from Washington as part of any agreement.
Kyiv is concerned that a resolution lacking substantial military commitments, such as NATO membership or the stationing of peacekeeping forces, could allow the Kremlin time to regroup and prepare for a renewed offensive.
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Mr. Zelensky has expressed his intention to offer US companies profitable reconstruction contracts to gain favor with Mr. Trump.
“Those who assist us in saving Ukraine will participate in its renovation, collaborating with Ukrainian businesses. We are prepared to discuss all these matters in detail,” he told the Guardian.
Ukraine possesses some of the largest mineral reserves in Europe, and it is “not in the interests of the United States” for these resources to be seized by Russia, he stated.
“We can present our partners with investment opportunities that did not exist before related to valuable natural resources. This will create jobs for us and generate profits for American companies,” he added.
The Munich meeting takes place as Russia continues to advance in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, where it has seized several settlements, many of which have been utterly devastated by months of bombardment.
