Russia Opens Up To Negotiations Ending War In Ukraine, But Will Not Surrender Annexed Territory

JAKARTA - The Kremlin on Tuesday repeated its open position for negotiations to end the Ukraine conflict, but will not let go of the new territory.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russia would never release its claims over the four Ukrainian territories it claimed to have joined him after last year's referendum which was criticized by Kyiv and the West.

"There are some facts that have become internal factors. I mean new regions. The Russian Federation Constitution already exists, and cannot be ignored. Russia will never be able to compromise in this regard, this is an important reality," Peskov said on Tuesday. March 1st.

Russia said it had annexed the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia areas last September at a major ceremony in Moscow.

The regions were later designated as constituents of the Russian Federation in a constitutional decision.

Peskov said Russia was open to negotiating if Kyiv accepted Moscow's control over the region.

"With favorable conditions and the right attitude from Ukraine, this can be resolved at the negotiating table. However, the most important thing is to achieve our goals," he explained.

Russian troops did not fully control any of the four regions, with Moscow saying it was struggling to "bless" these areas from the Ukrainian neo-Nazi control.

Meanwhile, Kyiv and West said this was an baseless pretext for illegally confiscation of land.

Ukraine said Russian troops should leave every inch of its territory including four annexed territory and Crimean peninsula, which Moscow from Ukraine unilaterally annexed in 2014, before the peace plan could be discussed.