"It is important to proceed from the will of the people living in these territories and to recognize these territories, because this is what we call democracy, in this context, I say that Ukraine needs to recognize the results of the referendums held in the four well-known regions, and it must be recognized as a fait accompli, because failure to do so will mean that there is a chance of renewed armed conflict," the president told Sky News Arabia.
"Third parties are not interested in ending the conflict, but in using Ukraine for their own interests. Ukraine deserves a better fate and should not be an instrument in the hands of third parties acting against Russia. I hope that the Ukrainian leadership will pursue the national interests of the country, and not the interests of third parties behind the regime in Ukraine," the president noted.