KYIV, Ukraine, October 21 (ANI) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Ukraine is prepared to freeze the conflict along the current front line and transition to diplomatic negotiations as part of efforts to end the war with Russia.
In an interview with Fox News, Zelenskyy said Kyiv would then seek security guarantees from the United States and European nations.
“Yes. Right now we have to freeze, and I think this is a real way to end this war,” he said, adding that a ceasefire is the minimum Ukraine expects from Russia.
He explained that Kyiv would subsequently engage American and European leaders to seek security guarantees, emphasizing that peace and security remain paramount priorities.
Asked whether Ukraine would agree to surrender the Donbas region in exchange for ending the hostilities, Zelenskyy rejected the notion that Moscow was gaining the upper hand on the battlefield. He asserted that Russian authorities were seeking to force Kyiv to give up its territory.
“In 2026, they didn’t have success. They are not winning on the battlefield,” he said.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that the Ukrainian population was exhausted by the hostilities but maintained that the country could not simply surrender its land.
He reiterated that negotiations should begin from the current battlefield positions, allowing a comprehensive peace plan to emerge through diplomatic channels.
The Ukrainian leader also described his meeting with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday as “productive.”
He thanked the Norwegian prime minister for facilitating the talks, which included European representatives and U.S. officials, including Jared Kushner, who participated remotely.
Zelenskyy said the discussions focused on possible paths toward de-escalation and expressed hope that Witkoff’s meetings in Russia would produce constructive responses.
He said potential initial steps toward de-escalation could include ceasefires covering food security, maritime operations and power grids.
Zelenskyy added that he had promptly endorsed the idea of an energy ceasefire proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“I hope that today, in some hours, we will have some results,” he said. (ANI)
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