Mayor Vitali Klitschko has stated in an interview that Ukraine may consider ceding some of its territory to Russia as part of a temporary peace deal.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme from his office in central Kyiv, Klitschko said that although it would not be a fair option, territorial concessions could offer a temporary solution to end the ongoing war. “One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary,” he said.
His comments come amid renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been vocal about his stance on Ukraine potentially making concessions for peace.
Klitschko emphasized that any such decision would be painful but may become necessary depending on the course of the war.
He also stated that despite potential concessions, the Ukrainian population would not accept Russian occupation. “The Ukrainian people will never accept occupation,” he said.
The mayor made the remarks hours after a Russian missile-and-drone strike killed 12 people and injured more than 80 in Kyiv, marking one of the deadliest assaults on the capital in recent months.
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Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and currently controls around 20% of Ukrainian territory. Klitschko’s comments make him one of the most senior Ukrainian politicians to publicly acknowledge that territorial concessions might be considered as part of a peace process.
Klitschko and President Volodymyr Zelensky have had a tense political relationship. The mayor has often accused the president’s administration of attempting to weaken his position.
When asked if Zelensky had consulted him on potential peace terms, Klitschko replied, “No. President Zelensky does [it] himself. It’s not my function.”
He also weighed in on the February dispute between Trump and Zelensky at the White House, suggesting that important matters between leaders should be handled out of public view: “without video cameras.”
Earlier this week, Trump stated that Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, “was lost years ago.” Zelensky responded by referencing a 2018 U.S. policy document rejecting the annexation.
BBC News
