Zelensky was speaking at a press conference in South Africa during his visit there on Thursday and emphasized that he remained open to everything Ukraine's partners suggested to b

Zelensky was adamant that he has no power to give up Crimea: "There's nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution." Article 2 of the constitution states that Ukraine's sovereignty "extends throughout its entire territory" which "within its present border is indivisible and inviolable".

The Ukrainian president said his country would never recognize Russian control of Crimea, a key Russian demand.

Russia accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday of wrecking diplomacy aimed at reaching a peace deal after he refused this week to agree to recognise Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Russia said it was open to discussing a ceasefire with Ukraine, but could not do so because of Kyiv's ban on talks with Moscow.

Ukraine insists on an "immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 23 amid strained peace efforts and intensifying Russian attacks. "That was the proposal put forward by the United States on March 11 of this year — and it was absolutely reasonable,