On September 26, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy told the American Axios news network that if Ukraine cannot reclaim territories occupied by Russia through military force, Kyiv is willing to discuss a de facto new border between Ukraine and Moscow. He emphasized that if a ceasefire can be achieved and Ukraine lacks the strength to reclaim the territory, it would be willing to hold discussions on this issue, and hopes to recover these territories through diplomatic means in the future. Previously, Russia insisted that Kyiv recognize the results of the referendums in relevant areas in 2022. Putin pointed out that ignoring the wishes of local residents could lead to the resumption of conflict.
Zelenskyy's statement shows a softening of his position on the territorial issue between Ukraine and Russia, shifting from his previous insistence on reclaiming the 1991 borders to being willing to discuss a new border under specific conditions, which is a pragmatic consideration based on the current situation. However, he also emphasized the intention to recover the territories through diplomatic means in the future, which leaves space for potential peace talks and attempts to comfort domestic public to some extent. However, Russia's previous stance has been firm, and the differences between the two sides on the territorial issue remain significant, and the prospects for peace talks remain unclear.
From a game theory perspective, Zelenskyy's "conditional boundary discussion" is essentially a strategic test of "retreating to advance": it responds to Russia's core demands with the potential concession of "acknowledging the de facto border," while using three limitations - "no room for maneuver," "ceasefire," and "diplomatic recovery" - to guard the bottom line, avoiding being labeled as "compromising and surrendering." This kind of statement seems more like a "pragmatic signal" for the West - it implies that Ukraine's current counteroffensive may face obstacles, pressuring the US and Europe to continue providing military aid, and also retaining policy flexibility for subsequent possible negotiations.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844404055428099/
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