Ukrainian President: Freezing Frontlines with Russia 'Minimum Required' to Stop War

Washington, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that freezing the military front lines with Russia represents the “minimum required” step at the current stage to halt the war, expressing his readiness to accept this option as a precursor to reaching a final settlement to the conflict between the two countries that has been ongoing since February 2022.

In an interview with the American news network Fox News, Zelenskyy responded to a question about whether he would accept freezing the current ground situation, which would allow Ukraine to retain at least 75 percent of its territory, stating that freezing the front lines is a realistic option for ending the war. He clarified that “we must freeze the situation now,” noting that this step could be described as a ceasefire or, using the term employed by U.S. President Donald Trump, a “kill stop.”

Zelenskyy stressed that the halt in combat operations should be followed by outreach to President Trump and European leaders to seek firm security guarantees, emphasizing the importance of creating the necessary conditions to end the conflict and ensure Ukraine’s security.

He pointed out that approximately 9.5 million people have lost their homes and are currently living outside Ukraine, underscoring the need to create conditions for their return to their country and to contribute to its reconstruction.

Zelenskyy’s remarks come amid growing criticism from Trump, who has recently targeted the Ukrainian president over the continued war with Russia, holding him responsible for the persistence of the conflict. The day before yesterday, Trump also expressed his belief that the time has come for someone else to conduct negotiations on behalf of Ukraine. (End) R.S.R. / M.A.K.