Morning Note

Potential Ukrainian land concessions are one of the biggest question marks heading into this week’s Trump-Putin Alaska summit. The Zelensky government’s willingness to sacrifice territory could be the difference between peace and more war.

Kyiv’s public posturing has adamantly opposed giving up any land at all, but Ukraine’s leaders are reportedly singing a different tune behind the scenes. Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly told his European counterparts that he’s willing to give Russia some of the land it has taken during the war. That could include territory in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea.

Although Zelensky would reportedly only accept such terms if they come paired with robust security guarantees and a path to NATO membership, his new stance represents a productive shift away from the policies of the Biden years. Peace terms are written by the victors, whether anyone likes it or not. As things currently stand, there is no way to end Eastern Europe’s bloodshed without Russia gaining anything. The West finally acknowledging that could save untold numbers of lives. 

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