The president’s comments came after he said Crimea “will stay with Russia,” a position backed by the mayor of Kyiv, who conceded that his country may have to give up territory.

Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Ukraine may need to temporarily cede land as part of a peace deal with Russia, Britain's BBC reported on Friday. "One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It's not fair.

Diplomatic initiatives are multiplying to end the conflict, but significant disagreements persist among Ukrainians, Russians, Americans and Europeans regarding the conditions for a lasting peace.

"It's not fair. But for peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution," Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.