Yuri Kobzar18:13, 16.02.25
The President stressed that Ukraine cannot legally recognize them as part of Russia.
Ukraine will not legally renounce the occupied territories and will seek a diplomatic way to return them. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in an interview with NBC News .
“Legally, we will not recognize… our occupied territory as Russian territory. We will never do this,” he said.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine is ready to discuss a diplomatic way to return the territories, especially if it is guaranteed NATO membership.
“Yes, we must return it diplomatically. Yes, we can. If we are in NATO, then it is clear why diplomatically, it is very clear,” Zelensky said, adding that the priority is “of course not to lose people.”
Zelensky also said that he still believes it is possible for Ukraine to win the war by military means.
“Of course, yes. But these are a lot of losses. Oh, we understand how many. I think it’s too much. And I’m not sure at this speed. If our partners don’t help, don’t support, it will be difficult. It will take a long time. Longer than it could have been,” Zelensky said.
(C)UNIAN 2025
I don’t think that Zelensky believes that, unless he’s talking about a distant future possibility. It’s imaginable that Ukraine has other plans in this regard.