In a surprising shift, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday night his willingness to cede territory to Russia to end the ongoing war. This marks the first time Zelensky has publicly considered such a concession. Speaking to Sky News, he emphasised that Ukraine could temporarily give up land in exchange for a “NATO umbrella” over the remaining territory under Ukrainian control.
“If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under [the] NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control,” Zelensky stated. He added, “That’s what we need to do fast, and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically.”
This announcement represents a considerable shift from Kyiv’s previous stance. Until now, Ukraine had maintained that it would continue to fight until all its internationally recognized borders, including the four regions annexed by Russia in 2022 and Crimea, were restored. The change in Zelensky’s position comes as Donald Trump prepares to take office with a promise to end the war on “day one.”
Support for a peace deal is growing among European allies. Under plans floated by Trump’s team, a peace deal would freeze the current front line and require Ukraine to shelve its ambitions to join NATO for 20 years. In return, the US would supply Ukraine with weapons to deter future Russian aggression.
Zelensky hinted that the “NATO umbrella” might not mean full NATO membership, which Putin has rejected as part of any peace deal. Instead, it could involve NATO member states like Britain, the US, France, and Germany providing individual security guarantees to Ukraine.
When asked if Kyiv would be willing to give up territory to Moscow altogether in exchange for full NATO membership, Zelensky responded, “No one has offered us to be in NATO with just one part or another part of Ukraine.” He added that it “could be possible, but no one offered.” He later indicated a willingness to consider ceding Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine in exchange for bringing the free parts under the “NATO umbrella.”
The inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20 is expected to accelerate talks on ending the war. Trump is reportedly considering a plan that would involve European and British troops enforcing an 800-mile buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian armies. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also weighed in, suggesting that British troops should help defend Ukraine’s border as part of any peace deal.
“I don’t think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians,” Johnson told The Telegraph’s Ukraine: The Latest podcast. “But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, you’re going to want to have multinational European peacekeeping forces monitoring the border [and] helping the Ukrainians. I cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British.”
Zelensky’s willingness to cede territory marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict. As diplomatic efforts intensify, the world watches closely to see if this bold move will pave the way for a lasting peace.
