Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that any negotiations involving the ceding of Ukraine's Russian-controlled territories would merely extend the ongoing conflict. He emphasized that discussing issues such as Crimea would align with Russia's interests, which seek to prolong the war.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy made these remarks during a briefing in Kyiv, responding to inquiries about reports suggesting such territorial concessions could be part of a US-proposed peace deal. He highlighted the necessity of addressing the conflict by breaking it down into manageable parts to avoid the pitfalls of past agreements like the Minsk accords.

The Minsk agreements were intended to establish a ceasefire between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists in southeastern Ukraine. These agreements, signed in 2014 and 2015 in Minsk, Belarus, have faced implementation challenges, with both parties accusing each other of non-compliance.

Zelenskyy reiterated that extending the conflict serves Russia's interests and called for increased international pressure on Moscow. His comments came in the wake of a report by The Washington Post indicating that the US has suggested formally recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea as part of a comprehensive peace deal to end the war.