Ukraine plans to return all the territories seized by Russia. However, not all settlements will be liberated from the Russian army with the help of weapons. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with Bild.

The Head of State emphasized that this path may be long, but this is our goal and it is fair.

"I am not saying that Ukraine will return the entire territory with weapons, as I have already told you. I think it is a long way to go. I don't want to sound too optimistic, but I will be realistic now," the president said.

Zelensky emphasized that the main goal remains unchanged - to preserve a democratic Ukraine as part of Europe and as a future member of the European Union. To do this, Ukraine needs not only to return the cities captured by Russia, but also to create conditions for people to return home.

"It's not just about territories. We need to create conditions for people to return home. This means that all investors and global businesses must believe in Ukraine and its future. This means the absence of any frozen conflict," the head of state emphasized.

The journalist asked Zelensky whether he believed that Ukraine would be able to return the seized territories of Donbas and Crimea, to which the president replied that Ukraine did not plan to return all its territories with weapons. In addition, he said that last year's counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Defense Forces could not be called a failure.

"There are many reasons for that. The understaffing of our brigades is also a reason. The Russians knew where we would go. Absolutely. I cannot tell you why they knew and where all this information came from. History will sort it out in any case," the President summarized.

He called Ukraine's victories in the Black Sea a positive moment of the counteroffensive.

"We have built an alternative grain corridor and destroyed a lot of the Russian fleet. Is this a great success? No, on the one hand, but on the other hand, the fact that Ukraine has survived is a great success. And so, how can I answer the question, will we be able to regain the entire territory? Hybrid war and hybrid victory. This does not mean that only with weapons in hand we need to return the territory," he emphasized.