Ukraine's Zelensky Offers Land Exchange Deal to End War with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has floated a land swap deal with Russia in a new effort to bring an end to the devastating three-year-long war.

“We will swap one territory for another,” Zelensky told The Guardian, referencing Ukraine’s surprise occupation of parts of Russia’s Kursk Oblast since August. While Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukraine, Ukraine now controls approximately 500 square kilometers of Russian territory.

Zelensky has not specified which Russian-occupied regions he would demand in return, saying, “All our territories are important, there is no priority.”

President Donald Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a top priority since returning to the White House, engaging in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to lay the groundwork for a deal.

• Vice President JD Vance is currently in Europe for discussions with allies and Ukrainian officials, with a scheduled meeting with Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference this weekend.

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also be at the conference, reinforcing the administration’s diplomatic efforts.

• Over the weekend, Trump hinted at a possible direct meeting with Zelensky following the conference, a move that could bring the peace process to a turning point.

Moscow has remained firm in its demands, insisting that Ukraine must:

• Abandon its bid to join NATO.

• Recognize Russian control over four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Zelensky, on the other hand, appears increasingly worried about losing American support. He admitted that without the U.S., Europe alone “cannot provide real security guarantees.”

In a bid to keep American backing, Zelensky has reportedly offered lucrative reconstruction contracts and investment deals to U.S. companies, essentially trying to buy continued support.

Trump, however, has made it clear that the days of America handing out blank checks are over. In a Fox News interview this week, he outlined his expectations for Ukraine to provide the U.S. with something substantial in return for financial aid.

“I told them [Ukraine] that I want the equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earth. And they’ve essentially agreed to do that so at least we don’t feel stupid,” Trump said.

Ukraine has the largest uranium and titanium reserves in Europe, making it a key player in the rare earth metals market resources the U.S. can leverage to reduce dependence on China.

With Trump pushing for a peace deal that prioritizes American interests, Ukraine’s leadership is now scrambling to adjust its strategy. While Zelensky’s land swap idea suggests flexibility, the final outcome will likely depend on negotiations between Trump and Putin.

As the world watches, one thing is clear: Trump’s leadership is forcing a resolution that puts America first.

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