Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, has told the BBC that Ukraine might be forced to consider giving up land as part of a potential peace deal with Russia — though he emphasized that any such concession would be temporary and deeply unfair.
"One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It's not fair. But for peace, for a temporary peace, maybe it could be a solution," Klitschko said in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Despite this, the former world heavyweight boxing champion turned politician made it clear that the Ukrainian people would “never accept occupation” by Russia.
His comments came just hours after a deadly Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv killed 12 people and injured more than 80 — one of the most severe assaults on the capital in recent months.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion in 2022, Moscow has seized control of around 20% of Ukrainian territory. Klitschko is now one of the most senior Ukrainian officials to publicly acknowledge the possibility that Ukraine may have to give up land, even if only temporarily, to achieve peace.
Klitschko, who has had a tense political relationship with President Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that any final decisions on peace deals or negotiations lie with the president. “President Zelensky does [it] himself. It’s not my function,” he said, when asked whether Zelensky had consulted him on any potential settlement terms.
The Kyiv mayor also hinted at his disapproval of recent public spats between top leaders, referencing the high-profile clash between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in February. “Such important issues should be discussed without video cameras,” he noted.
Trump, in recent statements, has pushed Ukraine to accept territorial concessions, particularly regarding Crimea — a Ukrainian region annexed by Russia in 2014. Earlier this week, Trump accused Zelensky of obstructing peace talks by refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea. He claimed that the region “was lost years ago” and “is not even a point of discussion.”
Zelensky fired back, citing the 2018 “Crimea Declaration” issued by Trump’s then-Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, which reaffirmed the U.S. stance rejecting Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Ukraine and its European allies have become increasingly concerned by what appears to be Trump’s growing openness toward Vladimir Putin and a softer stance on Russia’s aggression. Critics warn that such shifts could significantly impact Western support for Ukraine in its ongoing defense.
While Klitschko’s remarks reflect a pragmatic view of a deeply complex and painful situation, they also highlight the intense pressure facing Ukrainian leaders as the war grinds on — and the difficult decisions that may lie ahead.
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