Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the American television channel NBC News that Kyiv will never recognize the lost territories as part of Russia. However, he admitted that their return could be possible through diplomatic means if Ukraine becomes a member of NATO. 

"We will never do that. We have to get them back diplomatically. Yes, we can. If we are in NATO, it is clear why it can be done diplomatically," Zelensky stressed.

According to Zelensky, the key priority remains preserving the lives of citizens. He noted that Ukraine can still achieve victory by military means, but this is associated with huge human losses and will require significant time and effort. 

Zelensky's words were a continuation of the discussion about the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO and the prospects for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict. The issue of Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance remains one of the key issues in Ukrainian foreign policy. Kyiv has repeatedly stated its desire to join the alliance, which, according to the Ukrainian authorities, should provide the country with long-term security guarantees. 

But the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO has sparked deep divisions among Western allies, with some alliance members fearing such a move could further escalate the conflict with Russia.