Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged that Ukraine is unable to expel Russian forces from the territories they occupy in the eastern part of the nation and Crimea.
Although Kyiv will never acknowledge Russian sovereignty, he stated that diplomacy remains the sole avenue for persuading President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops.
This statement follows less than a month after he made comparable remarks to Sky News, where he indicated that a ceasefire could be possible under certain conditions.
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In an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien on Wednesday, he admitted that his forces “lack the capability” to reclaim lands occupied by Russian troops.
“We cannot renounce our territories. The Ukrainian constitution prohibits this,” he emphasized.
“De facto, control of these territories has now shifted to the Russians. We do not possess the capability to retrieve them.”
“Our only hope lies in diplomatic leverage from the international community to compel Putin to engage in negotiations.”
On the same day, NATO’s Secretary-General expressed his desire to position Ukraine favorably for any future peace negotiations with Russia.
However, Mark Rutte also expressed his irritation regarding speculation on when such talks might commence, contending that public discourse on the issue benefits Mr. Putin.
“A primary concern is ensuring that the president and his team in Ukraine are in the most advantageous position when they decide to begin peace discussions,” he remarked.
The emphasis, he noted, should be on “doing everything possible now to guarantee that when it comes to air defense… we provide whatever support we can”.
Last week, the Kremlin stated that the conflict in Ukraine would persist until Putin’s objectives are fulfilled through military means or negotiations.
Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that no discussions between Moscow and Kyiv are currently underway, as “the Ukrainian side refuses to engage in any negotiations”.
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Zelenskyy discusses the potential for a ceasefire
During a previous interview with Sky News, Mr. Zelenskyy proposed that a ceasefire agreement could be established if the territories under Ukrainian control were placed “under the NATO umbrella”.
This arrangement would facilitate negotiations for the return of the remaining areas later “through diplomatic means”.
“To halt the active phase of the conflict, we must secure NATO protection for the territory of Ukraine that is currently under our control,” he asserted.
“We must act swiftly. Following this, Ukraine can reclaim the occupied territories through diplomatic engagements.”
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Upon speaking with Sky News on Wednesday evening, before his meeting with various European leaders, including Mr. Rutte, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed that he does “not perceive Putin as being ready to negotiate at this juncture”.
“What I observe is him launching more missiles and sending more young men to their demise, aiming to fracture European alliances at this moment,” he stated.
“We must recognize that appeasement gets us nowhere. Entering the negotiation table with a weak position yields no success.”
He added that the “reality” is that Mr. Putin is “not an individual with whom you can engage in negotiations” while he is “inflicting such chaos on European soil”.
Earlier in the day, Downing Street announced that Sir Keir Starmer has contacted US President-elect Donald Trump and “reiterated the necessity for allies to unite in support of Ukraine”.
