Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has said that the legal recognition of Crimea and Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as Russian territory must be one of the key issues in negotiations with the United States.
Responding to a question about reports that the US side is prepared to recognise Crimea and Donbas as Russian de facto but not de jure, Putin said this should become a central issue in negotiations.
"That is precisely what should be the subject of our negotiations with the American side. Thank you for highlighting this. It is one of the key points."
On 27 November, Putin claimed that the proposed list of 28 points in the US "peace plan" could serve as a basis for future agreements on the war in Ukraine.
