Negotiations to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have hit a major stumbling block, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, with no compromise yet on control over Donetsk.
“So far, we have been unable to find a compromise on the territorial issue, specifically regarding part of eastern Ukraine,” Zelensky told journalists, including AFP.
Jan. 23-24 saw the first direct Ukraine-Russia contacts under a US-led peace plan, with both sides testing the waters and laying out what they see as acceptable terms to end Europe’s bloodiest war since World War II.
A key sticking point, Zelensky said, is the fundamental difference in how Ukraine and Russia envision ending the war. While Ukraine seeks a solution that preserves its territories, Russia’s proposals demand strict concessions that Kyiv calls unacceptable.
“Compromise must be found by both sides – even though it is not very fair to seek a compromise between the victim and the aggressor,” Zelensky said.
“Strict demands on Ukraine are not compromise. They are a change in the country’s territorial integrity. We are ready for compromises that lead to a real end of the war, but definitely not at the cost of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” he added.
The United States has reportedly linked future security guarantees for Kyiv to whether Ukraine accepts a deal that could include territorial concessions, the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the talks.
If Kyiv withdraws from contested areas, Washington may provide additional weapons to strengthen Ukraine’s military in peacetime.
Zelensky said that the US supports compromise solutions such as creating a free economic zone in contested areas – but stressed that any arrangement must leave Ukraine in control of the territories it holds.
“That is roughly our vision,” Zelensky said. “Our side demonstrated readiness to discuss details in Abu Dhabi, but the delegation did not have a mandate to make final decisions. Such complex issues will be resolved at the leaders’ level.”
Kyiv’s “least problematic” solution, Zelensky added, would be a simple “stand where we stand” approach. Other territorial flashpoints, including control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, remain on the table for future talks.