President Volodymyr Zelensky has said in an interview with the BBC that Ukraine will not give up any territory in a potential peace deal with Russia.
The interview marks a year since Russia invaded its neighbour.
Zelensky said that conceding land might only encourage Russia to ‘keep coming back’.
On the other hand, he said, access to Western military hardware would help bring peace closer.
‘Of course, modern weapons speed up peace. Weapons are the only language Russia understands,’ Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian leader said his country wanted ‘security guarantees’, adding: ‘Any territorial compromises would make us weaker as a state.’
He repeated calls for more military aid from the West, and warned that a predicted spring offensive by Russia had already begun.
[Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/president_of_ukraine/52003958897]