Zelensky: We will keep the Russian territories we have taken as a plan to end the war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a television interview with the American network "NBC" that his country will keep the Russian regions it recently seized as part of a "plan to end the war."

"We don't need their lands. We don't want to transfer our Ukrainian way of life there," Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine would keep the areas it had captured "because they are an integral part of the victory plan to end the war."

He added that he would present the "plan" to international partners, noting that "at the moment we need the Russian territories that we control."

On August 27, Zelensky said at a press conference with his top officials in the capital, Kyiv, that he would present Washington with a plan that included “a strong package to force Russia to end the war using diplomacy,” “economic steps,” and “Ukraine’s place in the global security architecture.”

But Zelensky did not provide further details. He reiterated his refusal to hold any talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing them as "empty and meaningless."

In his interview with CNN, Zelensky said the Ukrainian incursion was a "preemptive strike" to prevent Russia from creating a buffer zone along the Ukrainian border. He did not say whether Kiev planned to seize more Russian territory.

On August 6, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale operation on the Russian border town of Kursk, which resulted in violent clashes with the Russian army. Violent clashes between the two armies have continued since the operation was launched.

Since February 24, 2022, Russia has been launching a military attack on its neighbor Ukraine, and is making it a condition for ending it if Kiev “renounces” joining Western military entities, which Kiev considers “interference” in its affairs.