The New York Times: Ukraine agreed to cede 20% of its territory in March negotiations
The New York Times reported that Ukrainian officials expressed their willingness for the first time to give up about 20% of Ukraine’s territory in exchange for a peace deal with the United States, during negotiations in the Saudi capital Riyadh on March 11.
According to the New York Times, an unnamed US official said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced through his envoys his readiness to cede this percentage of territory in order to end the war and achieve peace.
One member of the US delegation explained that US Representative to the United Nations Michael Waltz handed Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov a pen and asked him to draw possible future borders on a map.
Umerov reportedly drew a line along the current military frontlines, drew a circle around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, and drew a line separating the coastal San Kinborn, stressing that control of this area is necessary to ensure that Ukrainian ships reach the port of Nikolaev.
According to a US official, Ukraine has become besieged after this decision, a reference to the size of the concessions put forward.
The future of Crimea was also addressed with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing Washington’s readiness to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, but stressed that the United States won’t demand Ukraine or the European Union to do the same.
