The Telegraph: Ukraine ready for peace talks, but won’t recognize Russian occupation

Ukraine has signaled its openness to a potential ceasefire that would freeze the current front lines of the war, provided that such a settlement does not entail international recognition of Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territories.

The Ukrainian constitution prohibits any unilateral alteration of the country’s territorial integrity by either the president or parliament, effectively preventing any formal recognition of Russian control over occupied regions, The Telegraph reports.

Despite these constraints, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged that the prospect of liberating all occupied territories through military force has become increasingly unlikely, and that Kyiv must now focus on diplomatic avenues.

“Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same brave approach from the Russian side,” Zelenskyy said during a phone call with Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany.

Public sentiment in Ukraine also reflects waning optimism for a decisive military victory. Only one-quarter of Ukrainians now support continuing the fight against Russia until total victory is achieved, highlighting a growing appetite for negotiated solutions.

In a development that could shift the dynamics of possible peace talks, Donald Trump has indicated he is open to meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin without President Zelenskyy—abandoning his earlier pledge to only participate in trilateral negotiations.

When asked whether Putin would need to speak with Zelenskyy prior to any meeting with him, the US president replied: “No, he doesn’t. No, no, they would like to meet with me and I’ll do whatever I can to stop the killing.”

This contradicted a statement made earlier that day by a White House source, who said: “Putin must meet with Zelenskyy for the meeting to occur.” Reports from several US outlets suggest that administration officials remain cautious of any direct talks between Trump and Putin, fearing it could result in concessions being made over Zelenskyy’s head in pursuit of a swift peace deal.

President Zelenskyy spent much of August 7 on the phone with European leaders, seeking to consolidate support for a ceasefire initiative and ensure Ukraine’s position is not undermined in international diplomacy.

Following a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to explore peaceful solutions: “We remain mindful of the need for a real ceasefire. Ukraine is ready for it, and there has been no clear public response from Russia yet.”

By Vafa Guliyeva