Zelensky: Freezing the front line is the fastest way to end the war

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would be willing to raise the current front lines with Russia as part of a TRUCE possible, calling it the "fastest way" to stop the fighting, in an exclusive interview with Sky News.

Speaking of Sky News on Sunday , Zelensky was asked where he would like the lines to be drawn if a ceasefire were agreed.

“If a ceasefire were agreed upon tomorrow, where would you like the lines to be? Where are they at the moment? Would you agree to that?” Hakim asked.

"Yes. It's the fastest way," Zelensky replied.

However, he stressed that any freeze would have to be part of a broader diplomatic process aimed at preventing new aggression.

"We want to stop the war in a way that the war never comes back," he said. "The idea is not just to freeze, but the fastest way is to freeze and move it to a diplomatic environment."

When asked whether such an approach would constitute acquiescence to Russian demands, Zelensky rejected the characterization.

"No, it's not just about giving," he said. "Staying where we are means giving the Ukrainian people more opportunities to save their children and for the soldiers to come back. I think that's important for us."

Kiev has repeatedly proposed freezing the conflict along the current front lines as part of a broader peace agreement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted instead that any solution would require Ukraine to hand over the entire Donetsk region, including areas that Russian forces have failed to capture despite more than a decade of fighting.

During the same conversation, Zelensky also addressed reports of a meeting in Kiev with Russian businessman and former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich in May, confirming that the meeting was used to convey messages intended for the Kremlin.

"He came to Kiev. He said I brought you a direct message and I want to take messages from you and give them to [Vladimir] Putin," Zelensky said, addressing the reports for the first time.

“But he said it should [be done] quietly without any kind of publicity. I said it's your choice – for us, it doesn't matter.”

Zelensky added that the meeting itself "was not a secret," saying Abramovich wanted to understand "what we are ready to do" regarding possible peace negotiations.

However, he said it was clear that Ukraine would not give up the disputed region of Donbas.

“That was the main message. I said we will not leave. We will not give you victory this way.”

When asked if Abramovich was acting as an intermediary with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said: "When he received the messages from me, he said he would go directly to Putin."

Zelensky also reiterated that Ukraine will continue to carry out attacks deep inside Russian territory, saying the country will become stronger over time and will intensify pressure on Russia as the war continues.

The GeoPost