Zelensky is ready to give up territories occupied by Russia

Ukraine is ready to cease hostilities and relinquish territories controlled by the Russian army as part of a European-backed peace plan.

The Telegraph reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky initially opposed such a deal, but he did not rule out the possibility that Russia would retain some of the territory it had already occupied.

This would mean "freezing" the front line in its current form, i.e. transferring control of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Kherson regions, and the occupied territories of Crimea to Russia. The possibility of a withdrawal could be discussed in the run-up to the meeting of the US and Russian leaders in Alaska on August 15.

Analysts believe that Putin has not changed his goals in the war. He wants to overthrow the pro-European government in Ukraine and install a "puppet regime" loyal to Moscow in its place.