Ukraine is ready to cede territories already occupied by Russia

Ukraine could agree to stop fighting and cede territory already held by Russia as part of a European-backed plan for peace, The Telegraph writes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told European leaders that they must reject any settlement proposed by Donald Trump in which Ukraine gives up further territory – but that Russia could be allowed to retain some of the land it has taken.

This would mean freezing the front line where it is and handing Russia de facto control of the territory it occupies in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea.

The softening of the negotiating position comes ahead of talks between Trump and Putin in Alaska on Friday.