It became clear that during negotiations with their American counterparts in Riyadh on March 11, the Ukrainian authorities for the first time agreed to cede approximately 20% of the country's territory in order to reach a peace agreement. The New York Times (NYT) reported this, citing sources.
“For the first time, Volodymyr Zelensky stated through his people that he was ready to give up 20% of his country in order to achieve peace“, said an unnamed American official.
According to a representative of the American delegation, the US representative to the UN Michael Walz gave the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, a marker and asked him to mark the possible future border on a map. Umerov drew a line along the contact line, surrounded the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, and cut off the Kinburn Spit with a line. He explained that control of the spit would allow Ukrainian ships to enter the port of Nikolaev. A US official said that Ukraine was “trapped” after this decision.
The status of Crimea was also discussed at this meeting. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time that the US was ready to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, but would not ask Ukraine or the EU to do the same.