“Some ideas.” What Ukrainian negotiators discussed in Paris with Trump's emissary in relation to territorial concessions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference at the Élysée Palace in Paris after a meeting with members of the Coalition of the Will on January 6, 2026. PHOTO: Tom Nicholson, PA Images / Alamy / Profimedia
US and Ukrainian officials have discussed “several ideas” to address the territory issue as part of peace talks aimed at ending Russia's war on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday, describing the issue as the biggest remaining obstacle in the process.
Ukraine is under US pressure to quickly conclude a peace deal that could involve painful concessions, but has refused to accede to Russian demands to cede territory it still controls in eastern Donbas (the industrial province of Donetsk and Luhansk regions).
“The biggest problem that needs to be solved is the territorial one. We discussed some ideas that could help,” Zelenskiy said in Paris after Tuesday's meeting with European allies to discuss security guarantees for Kiev.
“If the teams (of negotiators, no) fail to solve certain problems, the matter can be brought to the level of the leaders”, specified the Ukrainian president.
Separately, White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters that territorial options were discussed at the Paris talks and that talks would continue.
The Ukrainian delegation will remain in Paris for further consultations, Zelensky said.
Kiev has previously said the US has proposed the idea of a free economic zone if Ukraine withdraws from parts of the Donetsk region still controlled by Ukrainian forces.
