Zelensky open to freezing front line, ceding de facto control of occupied territory to Russia — The Daily Telegraph

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told European allies that he is open to halting hostilities and ceding to Russia de facto control over territory it already holds, The Daily Telegraph reported.

In talks with European leaders ahead of the planned meeting between the Russian and U.S. presidents in Alaska, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine would reject any proposal from Donald Trump that involved giving up control over any additional territory.

Such a position, The Daily Telegraph wrote, amounts to agreeing to freeze the current front line. According to the outlet’s sources, Zelensky is seeking firm security guarantees in the form of weapons supplies and a path toward NATO membership.

The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for August 15 in Alaska. According to The Wall Street Journal, Putin has said he would agree to a ceasefire in exchange for Ukraine relinquishing the third of Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control. Zelensky said that Ukraine is not going to give away its land to Russia.