Ukrainian President Discusses Potential Peace Deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed on Wednesday that he is open to a peace agreement that would effectively freeze the war along the current front lines. He described this approach as the “real way” to conclude the ongoing conflict.
In an interview with Fox News’s Fox & Friends, host Brian Kilmeade questioned him about whether he would consider a deal that brings an end to fighting based on the current battlefield positions. Without hesitation, Zelensky affirmed, stating, “Yes, right now we have to freeze, and I think this is real way to end this war. We call it a ceasefire or ‘stop killing,’ like President Trump called it. Freeze and stop. And of course, this is the minimum we need from Russia today.”
Kilmeade framed the inquiry around a scenario where Ukraine would retain at least 75 percent of its territory. Zelensky responded positively, noting that any temporary cessation of hostilities would require support from Western nations.
“Then, of course, we will go to [the U.S.] president and to Europeans, and we will ask for security guarantees,” he added.
The president characterized the proposal as a starting point for discussions rather than a definitive territorial resolution. He emphasized the necessity of halting violence before engaging in talks aimed at a long-term peace settlement.
The interview took place shortly after Zelensky had a meeting in Oslo, Norway, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside leaders from Finland, Norway, and several European countries, as well as representatives from NATO. Notably, Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, participated via video link.
After the Oslo talks, Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, bringing with him a revised proposal that had been developed with contributions from Ukrainian and European officials. According to reports, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev met Witkoff at the airport.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that he found the Oslo discussions to be “positive,” observing that nothing unexpected arose during the talks.
Moreover, Zelensky mentioned he was ready to cease strikes on Russian oil facilities if Moscow reciprocated, and he reiterated his request for a trilateral summit involving himself, Putin, and Trump— a format that the Kremlin has yet to accept.
Trump had previously encouraged both sides to reach an agreement after months of stalled negotiations, with his envoys working to bridge gaps between Kyiv’s European supporters and Moscow to create a feasible framework. However, Zelensky expressed concern last week that the administration’s decision to pause sanctions on Russia might only strengthen Putin’s position.
