Lithuanian president calls statements about giving part of Ukraine to Russia unacceptable

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday called as completely unacceptable the considerations of some politicians and experts that Ukraine could give some of its lands to Russia to ensure peace.

"I would very much like, both personally and as a politician, to have a peace agreement reached because Ukraine is bleeding every day. But we certainly cannot irresponsibly divide the territory of another state as we see fit," the president told the TV3 television channel on Thursday.

"After all, all our action against Russia is directed on the grounds that a country has encroached on the territorial integrity of another country in early 21st century. Here is the alpha and omega. So if we start slicing this issue like a loaf of bread with a knife, I think that is totally unacceptable. Let's leave this issue to the people of Ukraine to decide", he added.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this week, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said Ukraine should cede part of its territory to Russia to end Moscow's invasion, stating that a humiliating defeat by Russia in the war could lead to further destabilization.

Kissinger argued that it would be ideal to return to the status quo that existed before the Russian invasion on February 24.

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 and pro-Moscow separatist groups later took control of parts of Ukraine's easternmost areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.