Territorial concessions to Russia will only lead to more aggression – Ukrainian MFA

German lawmaker Michael Kretschmer, the head of the state of Saxony, suggested that the Ukrainian government temporarily give up territory in exchange for a ceasefire with Russia, Der Spiegel reports.

Kretschmer also said that Germany needs a "U-turn" in its policy toward Russia.

"It is possible that for a ceasefire Ukraine will first need to accept the temporary loss of control over some territories… Not a single square meter of Ukrainian territory has become Russian… But, as in other major wars, the time has come for a final decision."

Michael Kretschmer said that the German government should "not only supply Ukraine with weapons but also take diplomatic initiatives" and that the allies should try to "influence Putin and make a ceasefire possible."

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko reacted to the speech and said that if Ukraine accepts the temporary loss of territory, Russian troops will get closer to Germany and Saxony in particular.

"The concessions of territories will certainly lead to greater Russian aggression, which will undoubtedly go beyond Ukraine. Peace in Europe lies in Moscow's defeat. Putin's goal is to destroy Ukraine and destabilize the whole of Europe. The only "reversal" in Germany's policy towards Russia can be even greater support for Ukraine. And we are very grateful that the German federal government shares this approach." 

Kretschmer has previously been exposed for his comments on Russia's full-scale war, calling for the aggression to become a "frozen conflict" in August 2022.