In a candid admission that could stir controversy at home and abroad, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has suggested that Ukraine might be forced to relinquish some territory to Russia in the pursuit of a temporary peace deal.
His remarks come just hours after a devastating Russian missile strike in the Ukrainian capital killed 12 civilians and injured more than 80, underscoring the continued human cost of the conflict.
“One of the scenarios is … to give up territory. It’s not fair,” Klitschko told the BBC. “But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary.”
Klitschko, once a world boxing champion and now one of Ukraine’s most recognisable political figures, acknowledged the bitterness such a move would bring. However, he painted it as a potential path to halting the bloodshed — albeit temporarily.
Though he’s not part of the central government or any formal peace negotiation team, his words carry weight. Klitschko also distanced himself from any official plans being considered by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“President Zelenskyy does [it] himself. It’s not my function,” he said, making it clear he’s not directly involved in settlement talks.
Despite his openness to considering territorial compromise, the Kyiv mayor drew a firm line when it came to long-term consequences. “The Ukrainian people would never accept occupation,” he stated.
Klitschko’s remarks sharply diverge from proposals coming out of Washington. A reported peace plan, supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump, suggests tacit American acceptance of Russia’s control over Crimea — a notion firmly rejected by Ukrainian officials.
The American push for peace talks appears to be intensifying. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is reportedly scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days. It’s part of a broader effort by Trump to position himself as a powerbroker in ending the war.
“You have no idea what pressure I’m putting on Russia,” Trump claimed Thursday. “We’re putting a lot of pressure on Russia.”
However, Kyiv remains sceptical, with many in the Ukrainian leadership challenging the idea that Washington is applying equal pressure on both sides.
The idea of giving up land — even temporarily — remains taboo for many Ukrainians. But as the war grinds on and casualties rise, voices like Klitschko’s may mark the beginning of a more complex national conversation.
The balance between peace and sovereignty is a fragile one, and any decision on Ukraine’s territorial integrity will ultimately rest with its people and elected leadership. Still, Klitschko’s comments might be the clearest sign yet that the price of peace is no longer just theoretical — it may be territorial.
As missiles continue to rain down and diplomatic efforts falter, Ukraine faces impossible choices. Vitali Klitschko’s words are not policy, but they do reflect the growing weariness of a nation battered by war. Whether his suggestion sparks outrage or reflection, it’s a reminder that peace, when it comes, may demand bitter compromises.
