Ukraine will not consider the possibility of recognizing the Russian occupation of part of its territories
This is reported by Kyiv24
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a video conference with European leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump, dedicated to the situation at the front and Ukraine’s position ahead of negotiations with the Russian Federation.
Details of Zelensky’s Conversation with International Partners
The meeting took place on August 13, ahead of Donald Trump’s negotiations with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. During a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that the position of official Kyiv remains unchanged: Ukraine is not ready to recognize any Russian occupation and demands increased sanctions pressure from its partners.
“I told the U.S. President and all our European colleagues that Putin is bluffing. He is trying to pressure everyone before the meeting in Alaska and (pretend, – ed.) that the sanctions are not working,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine’s Position on Peace and Negotiations
The President of Ukraine noted that despite the Russian army’s advantage in artillery, enemy losses significantly exceed Ukrainian ones. According to Zelensky, Putin is not interested in peace but only seeks the occupation of Ukrainian territories. In this context, the head of state emphasized the need for continued pressure from both the U.S. and European partners to achieve a just peace.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in turn, noted that during the joint conversation, a clear position of Kyiv and Europe was outlined to Donald Trump: the primary task is to establish a ceasefire regime. Only after that can the possibility of a long-term agreement to end the war be considered, provided Ukraine receives reliable security guarantees.
Merz emphasized that Ukraine is ready to engage in dialogue regarding territorial issues; however, the starting point must be the front line, not the recognition of territories occupied by Russia.