Zelenskyy reverses stance, says 'open to land swap' with Russia
What's the story
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed willingness to negotiate a land swap with Russia. This is a major shift in Kyiv's stance on territorial concessions.
Zelenskyy suggested trading parts of the Kursk region, which Ukraine seized last year, for regions currently under Russian control.
"We will swap one territory for another," he stated, adding he did not know which territories he would ask for in return.
Diplomatic developments
Zelenskyy's new stance comes amid US-Russia prisoner exchange
"I don't know, we will see. But all our territories are important, there is no priority," he said.
Zelenskyy's statement comes as United States President Donald Trump praised Moscow's release of an American prisoner, seeing it as a step toward ending the conflict.
Speaking to The Guardian, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for security guarantees with the US and European allies involved.
He said, "Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees."
Upcoming meeting
Zelenskyy to meet US VP ahead of Munich Security Conference
Zelensky will meet with US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, according to his spokeswoman.
"There are voices that say that Europe could offer security guarantees without the Americans, and I always say no," Zelensky told the Guardian.
Last month, an envoy from the Trump administration, Steve Witkoff, facilitated the release of Marc Fogel, an American teacher imprisoned in Russia since 2021 on drug charges.
Diplomatic efforts
Trump administration's role in Ukraine-Russia conflict resolution
President Trump, who returned to office last month, has vowed to end the war in Ukraine. He plans to use the billions of dollars in aid sent by America to Kyiv as a bargaining chip.
The White House described Fogel's release as part of an "exchange" but didn't elaborate.
"We were treated very nicely by Russia," Trump said, adding, "Actually, I hope that's the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war."