The Geography of Peace: Why Territory is the Central, Explosive Issue

At the heart of the planned Putin-Zelenskyy summit lies the geography of peace: the explosive and emotional issue of territory. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to make this the central topic of his one-on-one discussion highlights that all paths to a lasting settlement must run through this contentious landscape.
For Ukraine, the issue is one of sovereignty and national identity. Reclaiming all territories up to its 1991 borders is a foundational goal, and any compromise on this point is politically perilous. Zelenskyy’s challenge is to find a formula that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty while being realistic enough to end the fighting.
For Russia, the territories it currently holds are framed as strategic assets and, in some cases, as historically Russian lands. Relinquishing them would be portrayed by Putin’s opponents as a major defeat. This makes any discussion of withdrawal incredibly difficult for the Kremlin.
By isolating this “question of territory” for a direct leaders’ meeting, Zelenskyy is creating a high-pressure environment where the two individuals with the authority to make a deal can confront the single biggest obstacle to peace. The outcome of this geographical negotiation will determine the fate of the war.