Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that Ukraine is open to trading a part of Russian territory it controls in Kursk for another region, though he did not specify which area he would seek in return.
In an interview with The Guardian on February 11, Zelensky stated that if President Donald Trump successfully brings Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table, he would propose an exchange of land Ukraine has seized in Russia’s Kursk region for an unspecified territory currently held by Russia.
"We are willing to exchange this territory for another area," Zelensky said. "I don’t know yet which one—we will consider it. But all of our land is important, and there are no priorities."
Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive and Russia’s Response
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and later declared control over Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia in late 2022. Ukraine and Western nations have condemned these moves, refusing to recognize Moscow’s claims.
In August 2024, Ukraine launched a major offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, aiming to force Russian troops to divert resources away from occupied Ukrainian territories and gain leverage in potential peace talks.
However, the campaign did not unfold as Ukraine had hoped. After an initial setback, Russia reinforced its positions, mobilized tens of thousands of troops, and regained momentum across multiple fronts. By January 17, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced it had reclaimed 62.3% of the areas Ukraine had seized in Kursk.
European Peacekeeping Proposal and U.S. Role
Commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea of deploying European peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire agreement, Zelensky said such a mission would only work if it included a force of 100,000–150,000 European soldiers.
"Even if this happens, we still won’t have a military force on par with the Russian army," he noted.
Zelensky expressed doubt that European nations would agree to send combat-ready troops, warning that Russia would reject their presence in peace talks. He also criticized past United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions, arguing that they have rarely been effective.
"I’ll be blunt: I don’t think UN peacekeeping forces—or similar missions—have ever truly helped anyone in history. We can’t fully support this idea," he said.
However, Zelensky left the door open to peacekeepers if they were part of a broader security guarantee, but stressed that such a deal would be impossible without U.S. involvement.
Trump has been pushing for a rapid end to the Ukraine conflict, while Zelensky insists that any deal must include firm U.S. security commitments.
Russia Dismisses Ukraine’s Offer
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded to Zelensky’s remarks by downplaying Ukraine’s control in Kursk and calling his proposal an attempt to divert attention from Kyiv’s worsening military situation.
"Zelensky’s statements are meant to cover up the dire state of Ukrainian forces in the area," Zakharova said.
(Sources: AFP, AP)
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