Ukraine Won't Yield an Inch on Crimea, Says Zelensky
According to Financial Times reports, Putin told the US envoy earlier this month that he could withdraw Ukraine's sovereignty claims over parts of eastern Ukraine; in return, the US might recognize Russia's sovereignty over the Crimean Peninsula. Moscow denied the news, while Ukraine firmly opposed any territorial concessions, including Crimea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated late on April 22 that discussing territorial concessions is "off the table" as it exceeds the country's constitution. He emphasized that "Ukraine will not legally recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea or other territories, as they are the land of the Ukrainian people." His remarks were in response to a report by the Financial Times, which cited sources stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed halting offensive operations along the current frontline during his meeting with US envoy Viktor Vekhter in Saint Petersburg earlier this month. Putin even expressed willingness to withdraw Russia's sovereignty claims over parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Although Russia expanded its territory through unrecognized "referendums" in these four regions in 2022, only parts of them are currently occupied by Russia, with Ukraine still controlling the remaining areas.
The Financial Times further noted that according to the talks between Putin and Vekhter, the territories currently occupied by Russia in eastern Ukraine should belong to Russia. The newspaper reported that the US might recognize Russia's sovereignty over the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed in 2014, and ban Ukraine from joining NATO.
The Washington Post also reported that the US suggested freezing the current frontline.
American Vice President Vance, who is visiting India, openly told the media, "This certainly means that both Ukraine and Russia must give up some of the territories they currently hold."
Source: AFP, dpa, Reuters, etc.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830215880763404/
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