Zelensky: "To Stop the War with Russia, We Must Return to the Situation of February 23"

BBC, "Ukraine May Not Insist on Recapturing Crimea Before Peace Agreement with Russia" Interpretation
Zelensky Calls for Diplomatic Talks Between Ukraine and Russia

'50 Days of Resistance' Zelensky Delivers a National Address
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on the 6th (local time) that a peace agreement with Russia depends on returning to the state before the Russian military invaded his country.

According to BBC on the same day, President Zelensky said this in an interview with the UK think tank Chatham House, explaining, "That is the minimum Ukraine can accept."

President Zelensky emphasized that there is no doubt Russia is holding onto the territories it seized after invading Ukraine. However, he did not mention the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.

He said, "To stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation must be restored to the status as of February 23, the day before the war." He added, "I was elected as the president of Ukraine, not a small president of something. This is a very important point."

BBC interpreted the mention of the "February 23" situation as suggesting that Ukraine might not insist on recovering Crimea before signing a peace agreement with Russia.

President Zelensky urged the resumption of diplomatic talks between Ukraine and Russia, saying, "They destroyed all the bridges, but metaphorically speaking, I think not all the bridges have been destroyed yet."