Zelenskyy signals readiness to freeze front line under peace deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv is prepared to accept a ceasefire freezing current front lines, provided Western allies guarantee Ukraine's future security against renewed Russian aggression.
Frontline armistice and territorial sovereignty
Speaking in an interview with American broadcaster Fox News on Wednesday, Zelenskyy described halting active combat along the existing line of contact as a realistic pathway to ending the war. He affirmed that Ukraine would accept an arrangement leaving Russian forces temporarily in place across roughly a quarter of Ukrainian territory, prioritizing an immediate end to bloodshed.
“Now we must freeze hostilities, and this is a realistic way to end the war,” Zelenskyy said. “We will call it an armistice or, as President Trump puts it, the cessation of killings—to freeze and halt operations is the minimum we require from Russia today,” he added.
Diplomatic momentum and security guarantees
Ukrainian officials clarified that freezing active frontlines would not entail legal recognition of Russian sovereignty over occupied territories. Kyiv plans to seek binding security guarantees from the United States and European allies immediately after any ceasefire takes effect, aiming to deter future Kremlin incursions and foster economic reconstruction.
Zelenskyy also underscored the humanitarian toll of the Russian invasion, noting that 9.5 million citizens have lost their homes and remain displaced worldwide. “Nine and a half million of our citizens have lost their homes and are scattered across the world, but they will return and rebuild our country,” Zelenskyy said.
Trilateral framework and Kremlin positioning
The remarks coincide with renewed American diplomatic efforts to restart direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. The Kremlin confirmed on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in principle to hold trilateral talks mediated by the United States in Abu Dhabi, potentially beginning on Nov. 10. The announcement followed a three-hour meeting in Saint Petersburg between Putin and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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