“I will give Putin four regions and Crimea”: scandal surrounding Arestovych’s statement about the “peace plan” and presidential ambitions

While Ukraine is torn between the front and strategic elections, a sensational statement is heard in the information field: Oleksiy Arestovych, a former advisor to the President's Office, expresses his readiness to cede four regions and Crimea to the Russian occupiers for the sake of "lasting peace." Far from the usual rhetoric, he paints a portrait of a country that deliberately changes reality to conditional peace - in a format that is unacceptable for most Ukrainians. What lies behind the scandalous intentions, who applauds such a "capitulation" and how do society and the state react?

Arestovich and "peace on Putin's terms": details of the interview and political fantasy
In a dialogue with Russian journalist Ksenia Sobchak, Arestovich stated that if elected president, he would agree to "give Russia" Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhia regions, and Crimea. ¹

The politician sees the model of the “peace plan” by analogy with the division of Germany and the Korean Peninsula: the creation of a new border, formal non-recognition of the annexation, and an attempt to establish relations with the aggressor.

“I do not recognize these regions as Russian, but I am ready to liberate them under guarantees of peace between the two states. This is a real way to stop the war if the Russians do not resume it either,” Arestovich added.
Among the proposals: withdrawal of troops, signing a peace agreement, diplomatic contacts under the "prayers for the dead with Putin," and even joint flowers on the graves of Russian soldiers.

What is behind the “Arestovich plan”: capitulation or political calculation?

The statement caused unequivocal outrage in the patriotic field and among officials.
– Society perceived the words about the “ceding” of territories as a direct legitimization of the “Russian world” — even in conditions when a large part of the occupied regions is currently being flooded with blood.
– Experts note: the “FRG-GDR” or “North-South Korea” model does not work for Ukraine, since Russia does not recognize the “status quo,” and a conditional peace is only a regrouping before new aggression.

The new border only “freezes” the conflict, allowing the Kremlin to legalize the occupation and launch a new wave of influence through diplomacy/destructive work among “Russian-speaking” people.

State reaction and information background

In 2024, Arestovych was already on the NSDC sanctions list as a person who, through actions or statements, harmed the interests of Ukraine. ¹
His words are regularly quoted by Russian propagandists, he himself remains a frequent guest on Russian YouTube channels, and his messages are consonant with the Kremlin's rhetoric: "who should we put up with," "Ukrainian victories are impossible," "The West will not help."

The scandal with the “surrender of regions” is not the first and not a random statement: after the tragedy in the Dnipro in 2022, Arestovych was criticized for the “mistake of the Ukrainian air defense,” and the ex-councilman himself left power precisely because of this wave of indignation.

Rhetoric of division or legalization of treason?

Public “peacemaking” based on the formula of territorial sacrifice is assessed as follows:

• As an attempt to legalize surrender and create a precedent of “exchange of peace for sovereignty”;
• As an information operation for a wider audience in the East and West;
• As a tool of influence for pro-Kremlin circles that promote “war fatigue” in society;
• As personal PR against the backdrop of presidential ambitions and attempts to present himself as a Western or pro-Russian "peace moderator."

Sociologists and psychologists note that such messages spread rapidly through anonymous Telegram channels, polarizing society and objectively weakening confidence in victory and in the army command.

Who is interested in such initiatives?

Russian propagandists actively quote Arestovych, making his case “living proof” that even among the Ukrainian elite there are supporters of “peace at any cost.”
Pro-Kremlin mouthpieces are using his statements to legitimize their own scenarios of “returning territories peacefully.”

At the same time, YouTube has already blocked a number of Arestovych's channels as spreading disinformation and undermining Ukrainian national interests.

The position of state authorities: tough sanctions and demarche

A ban on public activity, a tough position from the Office of the President, constant monitoring of the media, cooperation with international platforms to combat disinformation — this is what the Ukrainian response looks like.
The SBU, the NSDC, and law enforcement agencies state that initiatives like "surrender four regions and Crimea" are part of a hybrid war and a justification for Russia's crime of aggression.

The authorities emphasize once again: ending the war on the Kremlin's terms means the loss of independence, not peace in the classical sense.

Presentation and consequences for the outside world

In the Western media, Arestovych's statements are "exotic" and a reason for discussions about Ukraine's "other voice", but experts rightly point out: no serious world leader recognizes the possibility of legitimate surrender of territories, especially under pressure from an aggressor.

The main moral of the crisis: even in a public democracy, the red lines of national sovereignty remain unbreakable, and political fantasies will not replace the real struggle for every square kilometer of a free country.

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