Zelensky Open To Freezing Front Lines As ‘Quickest Way’ To Halt War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he would be willing to freeze the current front lines with Russia as part of a potential ceasefire, calling it “the quickest way” to halt the fighting, in an exclusive interview with Sky News.

Speaking to Sky News, Zelensky was asked where he would want the lines to be frozen if a ceasefire were agreed.

“If a ceasefire was agreed tomorrow, where would you want the lines to be frozen? Where they are at this moment? Would you agree to that?” Hakim asked.

“Yes. It’s the quickest way,” Zelensky replied.

He stressed, however, that any freeze would need to be part of a broader diplomatic process aimed at preventing renewed aggression.

“We want to stop the war in a way where the war will not come back,” he said. “It’s not the idea just to freeze, but the quickest way is to freeze and to move it to a diplomatic setting.”

When asked whether such an approach would amount to conceding Russian demands, Zelensky rejected the characterization.

“No, it’s not just to give,” he said. “To stay where we are means to give the people of Ukraine more possibilities to save their children, and for soldiers to come back. I think this is important for us.”

Kyiv has repeatedly proposed freezing the conflict along current front lines as part of a broader peace agreement.

Other Topics of Interest

ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 7, 2026

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instead insisted that any settlement would require Ukraine to surrender the entire Donetsk region, including areas Russian forces have failed to seize despite more than a decade of fighting.

During the same conversation, Zelensky also addressed reports of a meeting in Kyiv with Russian businessman and former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich in May, confirming that the encounter was used to pass messages intended for the Kremlin.

“He came to Kyiv. He said I [brought a] message direct to you, and I want to take messages from you and to give it to [Vladimir] Putin,” Zelensky said, addressing the reports for the first time.

“But he said that it has to be [done] silently without any kind of publicity. I said it’s your choice – for us, it doesn’t matter.”

Zelensky added that the meeting itself was “not a secret,” saying Abramovich wanted to understand “what we are ready to do” regarding possible peace negotiations.

However, he said he was explicit that Ukraine would not cede the contested Donbas region.

“It was the key message. I said we will not leave. We will not give you a victory in such way.”

Asked whether Abramovich was acting as a go-between with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said: “When he got the messages from me, he said he would go directly to Putin.”

Zelensky also reiterated that Ukraine would continue carrying out strikes deep inside Russian territory, saying the country would grow stronger over time and intensify pressure on Russia as the war continues.