Zelensky says Ukraine is ready to freeze the war on the current front line but will not recognize occupied land as Russian

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told ABC News in an interview on October 23 that he is ready to end the war with Russia as quickly as possible and to freeze the fighting along the current front line. The interview was reported by ABC News, Ukrainska Pravda, Kyiv Post and DW.

"We are ready to stop this war as quick as possible. Freeze on the contact line," Zelensky said.

19.3%, not 25%

Asked whether he would be willing to give up 25% of Ukraine for a deal, Zelensky said no. He explained that 25% would mean Ukraine leaving all of Donbas by itself, while Russia currently controls 19.3% of Ukrainian territory.

Zelensky said he had heard proposals that temporarily occupied territory be recognized as Russian, and stressed that Ukraine will never accept this. He said he would sign a peace deal right now if he had the chance.

US support, Patriots and Starlink

In the interview, Zelensky lamented diminished US assistance and said Ukraine had received 24 Patriot missiles from its strategic partner over the past 90 days. He also said restrictions on Starlink were still in place. The following day, October 24, Ukraine's Defence Ministry said speed limits on Starlink and Starshield had been lifted.

Diplomatic backdrop

According to Ukrainska Pravda, US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg on October 21 for about three hours, a day after meeting Zelensky and the leaders of Norway and Finland in Oslo.

Quotes from the interview were among the most widely shared posts on X among Mongolian users on the evening of October 24.