Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to exchange territories with Russia controlled by Kiev in the Kursk region for Ukrainian territories within the framework of possible peace talks under the auspices of the United States. At the same time, Washington assessed as a good sign the decision to release an American detained by Moscow, reported Agence France-Presse, writes BTA.
If US President Donald Trump manages to bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table, we will exchange one territory for another, Zelensky told the British newspaper "The Guardian", adding that he did not know what territory Kiev would demand in return.
According to Zelensky, Europe alone cannot guarantee the security of his country. In his words, "security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees".
In two days, Zelensky is expected to meet with US Vice President J.D. Vance. The meeting will be held within the framework of the Munich Security Conference. The American side announced that the US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also attend.
US President Donald Trump promises to quickly end the war in Ukraine. He plans to put pressure on Kiev after Ukraine received billions of dollars in military aid from Washington during the administration of former President Joe Biden.
Yesterday, Trump expressed hope that Washington and Moscow are making a new beginning in their relations to end the war in Ukraine. The optimism was fueled by Russia's decision to release 63-year-old American citizen Mark Fogle, who was sentenced in Moscow to 14 years in prison for drug possession.
"Russia has treated us very well" on this issue, Trump said.
Fogle, who was detained in Russia in 2021, was released yesterday and returned to the United States early in the evening, brought by Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
Upon his return, he was received by the US president at the White House. Wrapped in an American flag, the 63-year-old teacher, visibly moved, said he felt "the luckiest man on earth". Fogle thanked Donald Trump and his team.
Asked about the terms of the deal that led to his release from Russia, Trump said it was "very fair and very reasonable".
Trump announced his expectations that Russia would release another American citizen today and assured that it would be "a very special" person.
In its official position, the US administration indicated that the deal "shows the goodwill of the Russians" and "signals that we are moving in the right direction to end the terrible and brutal war in Ukraine".
Mark Fogle, who works as a teacher at an American school in Moscow, was sentenced in June 2022 to 14 years in prison for possession of medical cannabis. He claims he was unaware that Russian law does not recognize the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
Donald Trump also announced that his Treasury Secretary Scott Besant would soon visit Ukraine to meet with President Zelensky.
A day earlier, Trump mentioned the possibility of "one day" Ukraine to become "Russian", insisting that the US receive financial compensation for the aid it has provided to Kiev so far.
"I want that money back," said Donald Trump, emphasizing that he wants Ukraine to supply the United States with rare earths and other minerals worth $500 billion in exchange for American aid to Kiev.
The Kremlin welcomed Trump's policy, saying it was a recognition of "reality.".
"The fact that a significant part of Ukraine wants to become Russia and has already returned to Russia is a reality," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, referring to the annexation of four Ukrainian regions in the fall of 2022. Moscow claims that these are already its territories, but does not fully control them.
Kiev fears a possible settlement of the conflict that does not include guarantees of future security. Ukraine believes that such guarantees could be solutions for its accession to NATO or the deployment of peacekeeping troops, emphasizing that only this will deter any future attack by the Kremlin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that negotiations can only take place if Ukraine lays down its arms, surrenders the territories claimed by Moscow and renounces its membership in NATO. Kiev rejects these conditions as a de facto capitulation.
Without certainty of continued American aid, Ukraine has seen the Russian army advance on its territory for a year. Russian troops have also suffered heavy losses, although Ukrainian forces are outnumbered and poorly armed.
Ukraine also faces daily Russian air strikes. There was another fatality in Kiev last night, and three people were injured, including a nine-year-old child.