Zelenskyy adviser: Ukraine open to war freeze along front line plans future diplomatic reclaim

Ukraine is willing to agree to a freeze in the conflict along the existing front line and to recognise territories that have been effectively lost.

The statement came from Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with La Repubblica.

“We understand that one possible scenario for ending the war is freezing the conflict along the front line. This concerns territories de facto occupied by Russia. They will remain as such,” Podolyak said.

He added that Ukraine intends to recover the lost territories in the future through diplomatic or economic means.

On August 18, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House to discuss strategies for resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

This summit followed Trump's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which had raised concerns among European allies about potential concessions to Russia.

During the meeting, President Trump reiterated his commitment to providing Ukraine with "very good protection," aligning with European leaders' calls for robust security guarantees.

However, he stopped short of committing U.S. troops, instead suggesting a "NATO-like" presence to bolster Ukraine's defence capabilities. European leaders emphasised the necessity of a ceasefire as a prerequisite for any further negotiations, a stance that Zelensky strongly supported.

Despite the cordial atmosphere, the summit highlighted ongoing tensions between Ukraine and the U.S. Zelensky has expressed concerns over Trump's previous statements suggesting Ukraine might need to make territorial concessions, particularly regarding Crimea and NATO membership.

He has called for firm international guarantees and warned of strong U.S. responses if Russia continues to avoid peace talks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev