Ukraine may have to give up land for peace, Kiev mayor tells BBC
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Vitali Klitschko suggests Ukraine might need to cede land temporarily for peace with Russia, as US pressure mounts.
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Ukrainian police officers stand near a damaged building after a Russian ballistic missile attack in Kiev, Ukraine, on April 24, 2025 (AP)
Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kiev, has suggested that Ukraine might have to consider giving up territory as part of a potential peace deal with Russia. His remarks come amid growing pressure from US President Donald Trump for Ukraine to accept territorial concessions, as confrontations intensify.
Klitschko hints at possible territorial concessions for peace
Speaking to the BBC, Klitschko acknowledged that one scenario for ending the war might involve temporary 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," he said.
Despite this, the politician stressed that the Ukrainian people would "never accept occupation" by Russia, marking a rare admission from a senior Ukrainian figure about the potential for land concessions, even if only temporarily.
Klitschko's remarks came just hours after a Russian missile-and-drone attack on Kiev, making it one of the most severe attacks on the capital in recent months.
High cost for peace
While discussing Ukraine's challenges, Klitschko emphasized that he remains committed to defending Kiev, which he described as "the heart" of the war-torn country. He suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might have to take a "painful solution" to bring about peace.
When asked if Zelensky had discussed any potential settlement details with him, Klitschko responded, "No. President Zelensky does [it] himself. It's not my function."
He noted that sensitive issues between political leaders should be handled discreetly, "without video cameras," referring to the public clash between Zelensky and Trump at the White House in February.
Trump’s influence on Ukraine-Russia peace talks
As mentioned in the BBC report, tensions between Trump and Zelensky have escalated, particularly over Crimea. Earlier this week, Trump accused Zelensky of obstructing peace talks by refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.
In a recent interview for Time magazine, Trump reiterated, "Crimea will stay with Russia," while claiming the peninsula was "lost years ago." However, Zelensky pointed to the 2018 "Crimea declaration" by Trump's then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo, in which the US "rejects Russia's attempted annexation."
Ukraine and its European allies have expressed concern about Trump's apparent willingness to forge closer ties with Russia, as discussions over a possible Ukraine peace deal gain momentum.
Following his BBC interview, Klitschko later stated that he "did not say anything new," noting that many global politicians and media are already considering territorial concessions as part of a peace deal.
"We understand that the scenario involving territorial concessions contradicts our national interests and we must fight against its implementation until the very end. This will require extraordinary efforts both from us and European partners," he emphasized.
