Ukraine doesn’t recognize occupied territories as part of Russia – Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine will not agree to a compromise providing for the recognition of the occupied territories as part of the Russian Federation, even under pressure from all allies.
"De jure, we do not recognize, no matter what anyone wants. Even if all the allies of the world unite, we still will not recognize the occupied territories. It's impossible. We do not legally recognize them. For us, they will always remain occupied territories until we return there," Zelenskyy said during a meeting with representatives of the International Media Council.
He noted that a dialogue with Russia should take place only from a position of strength, since any attempt to treat the aggressor on equal terms is a defeat for Ukraine.
"Putin cannot be subjugated in this story. He broke everything. He is to blame and must realize this. But you can't stop him if you talk to him on equal terms – it's a loss for Ukraine," he said.
Zelenskyy emphasized that ending the active phase of the war is a top priority for the country.
"We must find all the opportunities to end the hot stage of the war. That's the number one question. There may be a lot of negotiations, but the main thing is to stop the active phase. This is the number one security guarantee," the President stressed.