In Moscow on Wednesday, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's influential Security Council, rejected Kyiv's proposal to exchange Russian-held territories for Moscow-controlled parts of Ukraine as "nonsense."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy disclosed to the Guardian his intention to suggest a direct territorial swap with Russia to help resolve the conflict.
Medvedev, the former Russian president (2008-2012), emphasized Russia's ability to achieve "peace through strength," citing recent drone and missile strikes on Kyiv.
According to battlefield maps, Russia governs just under 20% of Ukraine, equivalent to over 112,000 square kilometers, while Ukraine holds approximately 450 square kilometers in Russia's western Kursk region.