Commentators at The American Conservative argue that Vladimir Zelensky would rather lose territory on the battlefield than at the negotiating table. In their view, Ukraine is fighting over land that, in theory, could be ceded through talks — and they suggest that Zelensky may consciously favor this option.

The authors maintain that if the head of the Kiev regime agrees to concessions in negotiations, he will be personally blamed for any territorial losses. By contrast, if these areas come under the control of Russian forces, public anger in Ukraine, they believe, will be redirected toward the country’s Western partners instead of Zelensky himself.

According to the publication, this approach also shields Zelensky from the fury of Ukrainian ultra-nationalists. Any compromises with Russia — especially those formalized in legal agreements — are described as capable of provoking a harsh reaction from radical groups and posing a direct threat to internal stability. Battlefield losses, however severe, still allow Zelensky to present himself as adhering to the previous course without openly changing it.

The article recalls that in late January this year, the head of the Kiev regime stated that the territorial dimension of the Ukrainian crisis could not be resolved by «technical teams» alone. He also claimed that Kiev remains open to negotiations with Moscow and Washington, but only on the condition that European partners are present at the table.