**Western Officials Consider Ukraine Giving Up Territory for Security Guarantees**
Ukraine’s European partners are quietly considering a deal that could involve the country giving up some of its territories in exchange for security guarantees, according to Western officials. This comes as Ukraine faces mounting setbacks on the battlefield and uncertainty about US support under President-elect Donald Trump.
**Concerns Over Concessions**
The proposal is being framed from “land-for-peace” to “security-for-peace,” with a focus on providing security guarantees that would prevent further Russian aggression. Russia currently occupies around one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory in the south and east.
**Kyiv’s Stance Remains Firm**
Despite these concerns, Ukrainian officials have insisted that any peace settlement should be based on President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s 10-point peace formula, which includes the restoration of full territorial integrity. However, some officials acknowledge that some territory may need to be liberated through diplomatic means due to Ukraine’s dwindling manpower and resources.
**Russian Position Unchanged**
Russia’s position remains unchanged, with President Vladimir Putin stating in October that Moscow will not make any concessions and that a peace deal must favor Russia. Ukrainian forces continue to suffer setbacks on the battlefield, while Russia has managed to offset its heavy casualties better than Ukraine.
**Western Officials’ Views**
Former French ambassador Gerard Araud told the Washington Post that “everybody” has reached the conclusion that ceding territory is necessary, but it’s hard to say this publicly without appearing to reward aggression. Former UK Foreign Secretary William Hague also expressed concerns about the implications of a peace deal that involves Ukraine giving up territory.
**Key Developments**
* President-elect Donald Trump confirmed Republican Senator Marco Rubio as his nominee for secretary of state.
* Ukrainian air defenses shot down 21 Russian drones overnight, while 38 others were “lost” across Ukraine.
* The US and Poland expressed support for Ukraine, with Polish President Andrzej Duda stating that he cannot imagine President Trump allowing Russia to destroy Ukraine.
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