Zelensky must show ‘flexibility’ – UK envoy

Firm security guarantees could help the Ukrainian leader overcome domestic opposition, Britain’s ambassador to the US has said

The West should encourage Vladimir Zelensky to be more flexible during peace negotiations, British Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson has said. He argued that the security guarantees offered by the West could help the Ukrainian leader ease domestic opposition if he is forced to make concessions to Russia.

Zelensky acknowledged that potential land swaps were discussed during his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. Trump, meanwhile, suggested that an immediate ceasefire may not be essential for a lasting peace agreement.

Speaking to Newsmax on Tuesday, Mandelson said Zelensky may need political leeway to overcome hardliners in Ukraine. “He may go back to Kiev and find he doesn’t have the political support for the flexibility that he’s got to show in order to help bring this to an end,” Mandelson said, as cited by The Times.

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“We’ve got to continue making sure that what Zelensky can take back is cast-iron assurance, so that if he does show flexibility, Ukraine can be safe,” the diplomat added.

Trump told Fox News that Zelensky must “show some flexibility,” and reiterated his plan to arrange a Putin-Zelensky summit, possibly followed by a trilateral meeting involving himself, Putin, and Zelensky.

The specifics of the guarantees that could be offered to Ukraine remain unclear, as the US has ruled out full NATO membership, while Russia has said it will not tolerate Western troops on Ukrainian soil. Moscow has also demanded that the West stop supplying Kiev with weapons.