
Ukraine is preparing for the end of the war with Russia to permanently renounce control of Donetsk and Luhansk, who have been controlled by Proru separatists since 2014.
In an interview with local media, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky implied that he could drop claims for these two regions. His statement follows that of Luhansk's separatist leader, who said he would undertake a referendum to join Russia.
Zelensky stressed that the cost of the war to Ukraine could be lost by 40 to 50,000 people if it continues the war with Russia for these two regions. The Ukrainian president said that today with Russia it is being discussed only for the regions they have occupied, not for the rest of the country
"We are not talking about the territories that they (the Russians) have temporarily invaded. We are not even discussing any status of those territories that were fully under our control until February 24, when the war began," he said.
As for criticism of Crimea, Zelensky said that if there was a diplomatic solution Ukraine would have taken it, but it's not that simple.