As Ukrainians’ support for territorial concessions levels off, Zelensky says current talks with Russia are limited to humanitarian issues and a ceasefire
In a new interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the delegation sent to negotiate with Russia has no mandate to discuss territorial issues — only humanitarian matters or a ceasefire. He also reiterated that Ukraine will not, under any circumstances, recognize occupied territories as Russian de jure. Meanwhile, although sociological surveys have found a growing share of Ukrainians willing to accept territorial concessions for the sake of peace since early 2023, a new poll shows that number leveling off — and even slightly declining. Among those who remain open to concessions, most say they would accept only de facto losses, not formal recognition.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Ukrainian delegation engaged in talks with Russia in Istanbul does not have the authority to discuss any potential territorial changes as part of a future peace agreement.
“[O]ur delegation has a mandate to discuss humanitarian issues — the issue of prisoners of war and abducted children — or a ceasefire. However, they do not have a mandate to discuss Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zelensky said in an interview with the Hungarian outlet Válasz Online, published on June 10.
According to Zelensky, only he has the authority to hold talks on territorial issues — and only directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I will not discuss my position on this with anyone else,” he said.
Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine will not legally recognize any occupied territories as Russian under any circumstances. However, he acknowledged that a de facto situation could emerge after a ceasefire. “[I]f we receive adequate security guarantees preventing Putin from continuing the war, then we will have time to decide on territorial issues,” he said. “By diplomatic means, not with weapons.”
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Meanwhile, the percentage of Ukrainians who support reaching peace quickly — even at the cost of territorial concessions — has stopped growing, according to new data from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS). That number had been steadily increasing since early 2023.
A survey conducted from May 15 to June 3 found that 38 percent of Ukrainians were willing to accept certain territorial losses in exchange for peace — down slightly from 39 percent in February. The number had previously shown consistent growth: from just 9 percent at the start of 2023 to 19 percent by the end of that year, and reaching 38 percent by the end of 2024.
In the latest survey, 52 percent of respondents said they were firmly opposed to any territorial concessions, while another 10 percent were undecided.
At the same time, KIIS emphasized in its press release that even among those Ukrainians who are open to concessions, most are only willing to accept de facto losses — not formal recognition. Just 24 percent said they would agree to officially recognize “certain territories” as Russian. And only 15 percent would support transferring five entire regions — including areas currently under Ukrainian control — to Russia.
“From the perspective of public opinion, any scenario involving official recognition of Ukrainian territory as part of Russia — let alone the transfer of unoccupied regions — will be rejected,” the KIIS researchers wrote. “However, Ukrainians continue to show pragmatic flexibility: even on the issue of territorial control, many are open to a compromise that acknowledges Russia’s de facto control without granting de jure recognition.”
The first meeting between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in three years took place in Istanbul on May 16, followed by another round on June 2. The only tangible outcome of the talks so far has been a series of prisoner exchanges. Both sides also drafted memorandums outlining their respective conditions for a ceasefire and a final peace agreement.
In its memorandum, delivered to the Ukrainian side on June 2, Russia listed a full withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions as a condition for a ceasefire. As a condition for a final peace deal, Moscow demanded Ukraine’s formal recognition of five regions — including Crimea — as part of the Russian Federation.
A new meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations has not yet been scheduled.
