12/23/2024

Ukraine's Zelensky Is Open to Negotiating with Russia

The negotiations could leave lost territory occupied

As Ukrainian forces struggle to hold off Russia’s army on the battlefield and President-elect Donald Trump indicates he wants to broker a peace deal, President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks signaled a greater willingness for negotiations to end the war — a major shift for the Ukrainian leader, who had long vowed to fight for every last inch of his country’s land.

Zelensky's messaging has been careful; he has not explicitly said Kyiv would agree to concessions — territorial or otherwise — even as Russia occupies more than 20 percent of Ukraine and would probably retain control of that land after any ceasefire. But after previously stating that negotiations could begin only once Moscow withdrew all its troops, Zelensky is now emphasizing the need for long-term security rather than the immediate return of territory.

Zelensky's change in rhetoric — something Ukrainian and Western officials have noticed — can probably be attributed to a worsening situation on the front line and an incoming U.S. administration that has put future security assistance for Kyiv in doubt. Ukrainian officials throughout the first year of the war stressed the importance of reclaiming all of Ukraine's land, including Crimea and other areas Russia has effectively ruled since 2014, as a condition for any deal.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.