Zelenskyy: Ukraine does not recognize legally occupied territories as Russian, but diplomacy must be pursued
Kyiv • UNN
The President said that Ukraine cannot legally recognize the occupied territories as Russian, but is ready for diplomatic solutions. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of inviting all of Ukraine to join NATO.
Ukraine cannot legally recognize the occupied territories as Russian. But diplomatically, we need to achieve our goals - a sustainable, secure and faster peace for Ukraine. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with the Christian media outlet CBN News, UNN reports.
We cannot legally recognize our territories occupied by Russia as Russian. We cannot according to the Constitution of Ukraine, according to the law, and internally. This is a split for Ukraine and society. We cannot play with things that can split society,
Zelenskyy noted that if Ukraine had a lot of forces and equipment, it would be able to put pressure on the frontline faster.
If we had a lot of forces, equipment, etc., which is what we asked our partners for, we would be able to put pressure on the frontline faster. If we don't have enough forces, then of course, some issues can be resolved diplomatically, and that's the right thing to do. But we will not recognize the legally occupied territories as Russian territories... Legally, this is not possible, but diplomatically we need to achieve our goals, and our goals are sustainable peace, safe peace, and faster peace for Ukraine,
AddendumAddendum
Zelenskyy saidthat the invitation to NATO should be for the whole of Ukraine, but that the Alliance's reach could be to the part of the territory controlled by Kyiv with future expansion.
Recall
On November 29, in an interview with Sky News, Zelenskyy saidthat he allows for the possibility of a ceasefire agreement with Russia if the government-controlled territory of Ukraine is brought under the NATO umbrella.
Reuters reported citing a letter from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga in which he called on NATO to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance at a meeting next week. The invitation is supposed to be the allies' response to the constant escalation of the war unleashed by Russia.
On December 10, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva reportedthat talks about Ukraine's invitation to NATO at this stage would continue with absolutely all partners, all 32 members of the Alliance.
