Kremlin comments on Zelensky's Donabas statement

Moscow is not occupying any Ukrainian territories, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that he is ready to explain this to any Ukrainian citizen.

The Russian presidential spokesman responded to a request to comment on a statement by Ukrainian presidential campaign frontrunner Vladimir Zelensky about his intention to demand the return of territories and compensation payment from Russia.

"We are ready to explain to any Ukrainian citizen that Russia is not occupying any Ukrainian territories and generally there can be no talk about that," TASS cited Peskov as saying.

According to the Kremlin spokesman, the Donbas republics "have been torn away by Ukraine itself," while a mention of Crimea in this context is inadmissible because this theme "is closed and forever.