Ukraine: We may have to give up land for peace — Kyiv Mayor, Klitschko

Kyiv Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, has said Ukraine might have to give up territory in pursuit of a peace deal with Russia, as pressure mounts from the United States President, Donald Trump for Kyiv to consider territorial concessions.

“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,” Klitschko told the BBC.

However, the 53-year-old former boxing champion underlined that Ukrainians would “never accept occupation” by Russia.

His comments came shortly after a deadly Russian missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital that left 12 people dead and more than 80 injured, marking one of the most lethal strikes on Kyiv in months.

Since the full-scale invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022, Moscow has taken control of roughly 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory.

Speaking from his office in central Kyiv to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Klitschko said he was “responsible for the capital of Ukraine”, which he described as “the heart” of the country. 

He acknowledged that President Volodymyr Zelensky might be compelled to pursue a “painful solution” to end the conflict.

The Kyiv mayor is now among the highest-ranking Ukrainian officials to openly suggest that a temporary territorial concession could be part of a broader peace deal.

When asked whether Zelensky had discussed any settlement plans with him, Klitschko said: “No.”

“President Zelensky does [it] himself. It’s not my function,” he added.

Klitschko and Zelensky, known political rivals, have frequently clashed, with the mayor accusing the president and his team of undermining his authority.

Touching on a recent high-profile confrontation between Zelensky and Trump at the White House, Klitschko suggested that sensitive political matters should be addressed “without video cameras.”

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Trump had earlier criticised Zelensky for hindering peace efforts after the Ukrainian leader once again rejected any recognition of Russian control over Crimea. 

The U.S. president stated that Crimea “was lost years ago” and is “not even a point of discussion”.

Zelensky, in response, referenced the 2018 “Crimea declaration” by then U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in which the United States affirmed it “rejects Russia’s attempted annexation.”

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