Ukraine will not legally recognize Russian-occupied territories, says Zelenskyy

He made this statement on February 18 at a press conference following a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara.

"Regardless of how difficult it is for us or whether someone wants it or not, Ukraine will not legally recognize the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. Our east, our Crimea, and all the other cities and villages that are important to us," Zelenskyy said.

According to him, all politicians currently discussing the possibility of a truce, forget about the return of prisoners.

"Why say unnecessary words about people not needing to die when it is necessary to return thousands of people who are currently in captivity? And if there really is goodwill to end this war (which I do not believe Putin wants), then a prisoner exchange must certainly take place," the president emphasized.

He also once again raised the issue of security guarantees and stressed that if some countries, including the United States, do not want to see Ukraine in NATO, the possibility of deploying foreign military contingents should be discussed now.

• On February 17, at a press conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that if peace negotiations with Ukraine were to begin, the Kremlin would not discuss relinquishing the occupied territories.