For the past 10 days, unnamed European and US sources have been briefing that it may be time to cut a deal with the Kremlin.
Russia has been advancing along the front line, with Vladimir Putin scoring diplomatic wins in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East – critical for pushing international agendas.
Most of these unnamed sources have suggested that Ukraine could give up land it has lost to Russia since the start of the war in return for Nato membership.
But Mr Zelensky has always been adamant that he will not concede an inch of Ukrainian territory and, in many ways, his political credibility relies on that promise.