Politics & Diplomacy
Zelensky: “Yes, right now we must freeze” – Kyiv open to a ceasefire along current front lines, then security guarantees
In an interview with Fox News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is open to freezing the front lines as the way to end the war, followed by a request for security guarantees from the United States and Europeans. Moscow has repeatedly rejected ceasefire proposals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is open to freezing the front lines as a path to ending the war with Russia. In an interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday, October 21, journalist Brian Kilmeade asked him whether he would accept a deal that freezes everything as it is today, with Ukraine holding 75% or more of its territory, “regardless of how it started”. In the same interview Zelensky also spoke about the negotiations to end the war and the release of American Stephen Hubbard from Russia.
“Yes, right now we must freeze,” Zelensky answered. “And I think that is the real way to end this war. We call it a ceasefire or ‘stop the killing’, as President Trump put it. Freeze and stop. And of course this is the minimum we need from Russia today. Then, of course, we will go to the president and to the Europeans and ask for security guarantees.”
The Ukrainian president also raised the return of displaced people. “The most important thing is not to be afraid. We need 9.5 million people who lost their homes and are abroad, everywhere. They need to come back to Ukraine to live and build their country,” he said.
Earlier the same day, in a video he posted on X from Oslo, Zelensky wrote that “Russia strikes our country almost every hour”. “Of course, we are not losing this war. But we are losing people. Because of Russian attacks we lose people and time. It is a pity, because our children do not have a real life and childhood. That is why we must end this war as quickly as possible,” he said, expressing hope that American and European partners will help.
Moscow has repeatedly rejected ceasefire proposals, arguing they would give Kyiv time to rearm. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week that there would be no ceasefire that allows Ukraine to regroup and refill its arsenals.
The statement comes amid intense diplomatic activity. White House envoy Steve Witkoff went to Oslo to meet Zelensky and then on to Russia, while Vladimir Putin has put on the table a trilateral meeting with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping on Ukraine.
