Russia ‘ready’ for a Ukraine deal

UKRAINE may have to cede territory in order to secure “temporary” peace with Russia, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko told the BBC in an interview published yesterday.

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“One of the scenarios is ... to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary,” the former boxing champion said.

His comments came after a Russian missile-and-drone attack on his city killed at least 12 people and injured more than 80.

Klitschko said that he was “responsible for the capital of Ukraine” and that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy may have to accept a “painful solution” to achieve peace.

However, the Ukrainian people would “never accept occupation” by Russia, he added.

US President Donald Trump is putting pressure on Ukraine and Russia to agree a deal, and it is reported that territorial concessions, including the US recognising Russian control of Crimea - illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014 — are part of his proposals.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Russia’s foreign minister said on Thursday that Moscow was ready to do a deal on its war in Ukraine after Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt attacks, in a rare rebuke following the deadliest strikes on Kyiv in months.

“We are ready to reach a deal, but there are still some specific points ... which need to be fine-tuned, and we are busy with this,” Sergei Lavrov said.