**Ukraine May Have to Give Up Land for Peace Deal, Says Kyiv Mayor**
In a shocking revelation, the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has told the BBC that Ukraine may have to give up land as part of a peace deal with Russia. This comes amid growing pressure from President Donald Trump to accept territorial concessions.
Klitschko, a former boxing champion-turned politician, said that one possible scenario for achieving temporary peace is “to give up territory”. However, he stressed that the Ukrainian people would “never accept occupation” by Russia. This statement is significant, as it marks one of the first times a senior Ukrainian politician has hinted at the possibility of territorial concessions.
The comments from Klitschko come after a Russian missile-and-drone attack on Kyiv killed 12 people and injured over 80. This was one of the deadliest Russian assaults on the Ukrainian capital in months. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
**A Temporary Solution?**
Klitschko’s words suggest that Ukraine may be willing to consider temporary territorial concessions as part of a peace deal. However, this would likely be met with fierce resistance from many Ukrainians, who see the country’s sovereignty as non-negotiable.
The Kyiv mayor also hinted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might have to take a “painful solution” to achieve peace. This suggests that Zelensky may be under pressure to consider concessions in order to secure a deal with Russia.
**Trump’s Influence**
The comments from Klitschko come amid growing concern about President Trump’s influence on the Ukraine conflict. Trump has been accused of harming peace negotiations after he said “Crimea will stay with Russia”, contradicting Zelensky’s stance that Crimea is Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky has pointed to a 2018 statement by Trump’s then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo, which rejects Russia’s annexation of Crimea. However, Trump’s recent comments have raised alarm among Ukraine and its European allies about his warming relations with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
**Local Reaction**
The BBC spoke to locals in Kyiv who were shaken by the recent Russian attack on their city. One teacher, Svitlana, expressed her hurt at the thought of giving up Crimea, saying that Russia would not stop its aggression even if Ukraine made concessions.
Another woman, Olha, was more critical of Zelensky’s leadership. She said that she believed there would not be a good solution for Ukraine and that it might be better to stay away from the country.
**What’s Next?**
The comments from Klitschko suggest that talks between Ukraine and Russia are gaining momentum. However, with Russian strikes on Ukraine continuing, the situation remains tense and uncertain.
As the conflict continues to escalate, it is clear that finding a solution will require extraordinary efforts from all parties involved. Whether a peace deal can be secured, and whether territorial concessions would be acceptable to both sides, remains to be seen.
