The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has said that Ukraine should be "realistic" when it comes to territorial disputes as a possible peace agreement with Russia approaches.
According to foreign media, this marks the first time that the French leader, a staunch ally of Kiev, has suggested that Ukraine should consider a position beyond seeking to regain all territory seized by Russia.
Russia currently holds about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the annexed Crimean peninsula since 2014.
Macron is the latest in a series of European and world leaders who have softened their strong rhetoric against Russia, writes A2 CNN.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself told Sky's Stuart Ramsay late last year that he would be willing to let Russia hold the occupied regions for now in order to stop the fighting and allow Ukraine to join NATO.
"Ukrainians need to hold a real discussion on territorial issues and only they can do that, and the Europeans are counting on building security guarantees that will be their responsibility," Macron said.
He also said the US should aim to convince Russia to come to the negotiating table in the first place, but that any final deal should include Ukraine and Europe.
"There will not be a quick and easy solution," he added, writes A2 CNN. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
