Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
If confirmed, it would mark a monumental policy shift.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be prepared to make sweeping domestic policy changes as part of potential peace talks with Russia, according to a report by the Ukrainian outlet Strana.ua.
The developments suggest a significant softening of Kyiv’s long-standing stance on internal political concessions during wartime.
Shifts in policy
Strana reported on its Telegram channel that Zelenskyy is considering granting official status to the Russian language and repealing the law that bans the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
The outlet linked these potential steps to preparations for broader peace negotiations.
Journalists from the publication pointed to the government’s recent decision to withdraw a bill that would have removed the Russian language from the list of those protected under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.
They also cited a draft ceasefire proposal involving the European Union and Kyiv, which reportedly includes commitments from both sides to promote “mutual understanding and respect for the diversity of languages, cultures, and religions.”
Signs of compromise
“If this is indeed the case, then we are talking about a tectonic shift in official Kyiv’s position on a peaceful settlement,” Strana wrote.
The outlet noted that until now, the Ukrainian leadership had firmly opposed linking internal policy changes to any potential ceasefire conditions.
The reported adjustments, if confirmed, mark a departure from the government’s previous policy of refusing to discuss issues related to language or religious institutions in peace-related contexts.
Political background
Earlier reports indicated that Ukrainian officials had persuaded lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada to pull the controversial language bill from consideration.
That bill sought to exclude Russian from the protections offered by the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.
Verkhovna Rada member Volodymyr Viatrovych said the withdrawal came amid pressure from what he described as “unnamed Russian lobbyists in the Council of Europe.”
If confirmed, these developments would represent a rare moment of policy reversal by Kyiv, signaling openness to measures that were once politically unthinkable amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
However, no official statements from Zelenskyy’s office have yet confirmed such changes or clarified whether these steps are tied directly to EU-mediated peace efforts.
Sources: Strana.ua, Council of Europe reports
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation
