Ukraine should de facto recognize the territories under Russia’s control, but should not confirm this legally.

Axar.az reports that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated this in an interview with ABC News.

"It is clear that these two important issues must be discussed. One of them concerns territories. We must accept that Russia currently controls part of Ukraine’s territory," the alliance chief said.

According to him, resolving the territorial issue should involve factual recognition of control over the areas, not legal political recognition. Rutte added that the second issue concerns steps to be taken after the ceasefire, including the security guarantees Ukraine might receive.