Zelenskyy opens door to battle line ‘freeze’ to end war with Russia
Russia’s decision to free retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard drew a response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an interview with Brian Kilmeade. Appearing on “Fox & Friends,” Zelenskyy discussed possible negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war, the fallout from the Starlink dispute and other key developments.
Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he would consider freezing the current battle lines as a possible first step toward ending the prolonged war between Ukraine and Russia.
Kilmeade asked whether the Ukrainian leader would accept a peace agreement that left the front largely unchanged, allowing Ukraine to retain at least 75% of its territory despite the circumstances that began the conflict.
“Yes, right now, we have to freeze,” Zelenskyy replied. He described the proposal as a realistic path toward ending the fighting, referring to it as a ceasefire or simply a decision to “stop killing,” a phrase previously used by President Trump.
He said stopping the violence would represent the minimum commitment Ukraine needs from Moscow. After that, Zelenskyy said, Kyiv would turn to the United States and European nations to seek firm security guarantees.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Oslo, Norway. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB Scanpix via AP)
Zelenskyy also emphasized the need for Ukrainians who fled the country to feel safe enough to return. He said roughly 9.5 million people have lost their homes or are living abroad, adding that their return would be essential to rebuilding Ukraine and restoring normal life.
Moscow has repeatedly dismissed ceasefire proposals, arguing that a pause would give Ukraine an opportunity to replenish its forces and receive additional weapons.
Policemen walk in front of destroyed cars in the yard of a multi-story residential building damaged by a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)
“There will be no ceasefire to bring him back to his senses and pump him full of weapons,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week, according to the Interfax news agency.
In a post on X Wednesday, Zelenskyy said Russian forces were attacking Ukraine “virtually every hour.”
“Of course, we are not losing this war. But we are losing people,” he wrote in a separate post. Zelenskyy said the attacks were costing Ukraine both lives and time, while children and families were being denied the chance to live ordinary lives.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, left, holds a paper while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Konstantin Palace in Strelnya, outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Gavriil Grigorov/Pool Sputnik Kremlin via AP)
“That’s why we need to end this war as quickly as possible,” Zelenskyy said. He expressed hope that American and European partners would continue supporting Ukraine, while praising the resilience of Ukrainian troops and saying their strength helps him remain steady during negotiations.
The interview followed President Donald Trump’s announcement Wednesday that Stephen Hubbard had been released from Russian custody. The retired American teacher had been imprisoned after Russian authorities accused him of serving as a mercenary in Ukraine.
Also on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed “in principle” to restart three-way discussions involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine after Nov. 10, according to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser. The Associated Press reported the development.
News Outlet’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this post.
