**Ukraine President Says Country Can’t Recapture Crimea**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told readers of Le Parisien that Ukraine doesn’t have the military strength to take back the Russian-occupied territories of Crimea and parts of Donbas.
The occupation began in 2014, after Russia annexed Crimea. The US and its allies have condemned Russia’s actions since then. NATO has not recognized Russia’s control over Crimea and supports Ukraine’s sovereignty within its borders.
**War Talks Intensify**
Talks about a possible peace between Ukraine and Russia have gained attention this year, but there is still no agreement. The head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office said that real negotiations will only happen when Russia runs out of resources to continue the war. Some allies suggested giving up occupied territories, but Zelenskyy disagreed.
**Legally We Can’t Give Up Territory**
According to Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian Constitution doesn’t allow giving up any territory. “We can’t renounce our territories,” he said. Instead, he proposed that Western powers put pressure on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace agreement.
Zelenskyy emphasized that recognizing occupied territories would mean forgiving Putin’s actions and is not possible. He called for active diplomatic intervention from the US and Europe to end the war diplomatically.
**Alternative to War**
Referencing previous statements, Zelenskyy said Ukraine can’t sacrifice thousands of lives to reclaim Crimea. Instead, he suggested using diplomatic channels as a potential alternative.