Kyiv mayor suggests Ukraine may face “painful” territorial concessions for temporary peace
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Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko suggested that Ukraine might have to make difficult choices, including ceding territory, in order to secure a temporary peace with Russia amid the ongoing war.
In a recent interview with the BBC, he acknowledged the harsh reality. Klitschko said, “One of the scenarios is... to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution.” While emphasising that this outcome would be deeply unjust, he acknowledged the intense pressure Ukraine is under following a devastating missile-and-drone attack on Kyiv that killed at least 12 people and injured over 80.
As the capital’s mayor and a key figure during the war, Klitschko expressed his concern for the city’s safety and highlighted the difficult decisions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may be forced to make. “It may be a painful solution,” he said, referring to potential compromises for peace.
Despite this, Klitschko asserted that the Ukrainian people would never accept long-term occupation or submission to Russian control.
His comments come amid reports that US President Donald Trump is applying pressure on both Ukraine and Russia to reach a deal. Sources suggest that Trump’s proposal may involve Ukraine making territorial concessions — including international recognition of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, currently occupies roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory.