Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko indicated in a recent interview with the BBC that Ukraine might be compelled to temporarily retreat from certain territories occupied by Russia to secure a ceasefire, marking the first public acknowledgment by a prominent Ukrainian leader of possible territorial concessions.
His comments come amid mounting international pressure, particularly from the United States, to reach a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Klitschko stated, “A number of discussions are currently underway about possible solutions. One of the scenarios is the surrender of part of the territory. It’s not fair. But for peace — temporary peace — it could perhaps be the way.” He emphasized, however, that Ukrainians would never accept Russian occupation as a permanent reality.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is proposing a peace plan that effectively recognizes Russian control over Crimea, annexed in 2014, and occupied areas in the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance recently reiterated the U.S. stance, declaring that Ukraine must agree to territorial compromises or risk losing American mediation efforts altogether. Vance further suggested freezing the conflict along the current front line.
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized earlier this week that Ukraine has not received any formal proposals from its allies regarding territorial concessions and reiterated Kyiv’s stance against recognizing any Russian occupation.
Meanwhile, Klitschko, known for his strained relationship with Zelensky, revealed he had never directly discussed concrete peace proposals with the president.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed cautious optimism about ongoing negotiations, noting that President Trump’s approach could help address the core issues of the conflict. Lavrov added, however, that specific points of any agreement still required refinement.
On Thursday, President Trump reacted sharply to new Russian attacks on Kyiv, which killed at least 12 people and wounded dozens more, publicly calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin via Truth Social to immediately halt hostilities.
“I’m not happy with Russia’s attacks on Kyiv. They are not necessary and have very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers die every week. Let’s FINALIZE the peace agreement!” Trump wrote.
Despite diplomatic discussions, violent attacks continue. Overnight, Russian drone strikes killed two people and injured eight others in Pavlohrad in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, according to regional military administration head Serhiy Lysak. Fires broke out in residential buildings, causing significant damage.
Additional drone and rocket attacks also targeted the cities of Marhanets, Nikopol, and Kharkiv.
In turn, Ukraine reportedly targeted a top general in Moscow, Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, with a car bomb, although Kyiv has not claimed responsibility.