Zelensky may accept deal leaving 25% of Ukraine outside Kyiv's control

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he considers freezing military operations along the current front line and shifting the conflict to the diplomatic track a realistic way to end the war.

He made the remarks in a special interview with U.S. television network Fox News, Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing the broadcaster.

Asked whether Kyiv would accept a peace deal that froze the conflict along the current line of contact while leaving more than three-quarters of Ukraine’s territory under its control, Zelensky replied:

“Yes. If we have to freeze military operations right now, I think this is the most realistic way to end the war,” the Ukrainian leader said.

Zelensky added that declaring a ceasefire was a prerequisite for starting a diplomatic process. Kyiv would then seek reliable security guarantees from the United States and European partners as it worked toward a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.

The Ukrainian president’s remarks came amid intensifying diplomatic consultations among Moscow, Washington and European capitals.

A day earlier, a U.S. delegation held confidential consultations in Oslo with representatives of Kyiv and leading European countries, according to the report. Meanwhile, U.S. President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg to discuss compromise proposals for resolving the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Experts have described Zelensky’s statement as a significant turning point toward freezing the Ukraine crisis and moving from its military phase to political and diplomatic negotiations.