Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has said Ukraine may have to consider giving up some of its territory to secure a temporary peace with Russia, in what could mark a major shift in tone from Ukrainian leadership amid intensifying international pressure.
Speaking exclusively to the BBC from his office in central Kyiv, Klitschko acknowledged that while such a concession would be deeply unfair, it could provide a short-term solution to end the ongoing bloodshed. His comments come just hours after a deadly Russian missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital killed 12 people and injured more than 80.
One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary, Klitschko said, responding to questions about potential paths to ending the war.
The former heavyweight boxing champion turned politician was quick to add, however, that Ukrainians would never accept Russian occupation as a permanent outcome. The Ukrainian people will never accept occupation, he insisted.
The remarks come amid growing pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has suggested Ukraine should accept territorial concessions including giving up Crimea as a way to end the war. Trump recently accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of stalling peace efforts by refusing to acknowledge Russia’s control over the Crimean peninsula.
Klitschko, one of the most prominent Ukrainian officials to publicly suggest the idea of ceding land, also hinted at a rift between himself and Zelensky. The two have long been political rivals, with the Kyiv mayor accusing the president’s team of undermining his authority.
When asked whether he had discussed peace deal options directly with Zelensky, Klitschko replied bluntly: “No. President Zelensky does [it] himself. It’s not my function.” He added that critical issues between world leaders, such as the February clash between Zelensky and Trump at the White House, should be addressed without video cameras.
While Klitschko’s comments suggest a more pragmatic tone, reactions on the ground in Kyiv remain deeply emotional and divided. At the site of Thursday’s missile strike, the BBC witnessed rescuers retrieving the body of a school pupil as classmates looked on in grief. “Those who think that Putin will stop if he is given Crimea, they don’t know who the Russians are, said Svetlana, a teacher. He is not going to stop.
Zelensky has consistently rejected any proposals that involve ceding Ukrainian land to Russia. Earlier this week, he reaffirmed that Crimea remains a non-negotiable part of Ukraine. He pointed to a 2018 declaration by then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in which the U.S. officially rejected Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian and European leaders have raised concerns over what they see as Trump’s increasing warmth towards Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine’s allies fear this could undermine efforts to maintain a strong united front against Russian aggression.
Despite Klitschko’s suggestion, many Ukrainians remain resolute. “There will not be a good solution for Ukraine,” said Olga, a local resident who helped carry out victims from the rubble. “As of now, I think it’s better to be away from here because nothing good awaits us here.”
