It will be clear in a month or two whether "Il-76 bodies" are Ukrainian POWs 

It may take up to two months to complete the forensic examination of bodies handed over by Russia, which it claims are the remains of Ukrainian prisoners of war killed in the January 2024 Il-76 military plane crash, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, told.

Lubinets noted that while repatriation efforts have recently improved, it is too early to confirm if the returned bodies are indeed from the Il-76 crash. He expressed hope that a definitive answer would be available within one to two months.

On November 8, Ukraine received the bodies of 563 fallen defenders through repatriation operations. In early December, Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, claimed in an interview with RIA Novosti that Russia had returned the remains of POWs from the crash in Belgorod Oblast on January 24.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed the handover but stated that further identification of the remains is still underway.

Zelenskyy states that no world leader has the right to negotiate with Putin on behalf of Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that no country or leader has the right to negotiate with Russia on behalf of Ukraine. Speaking to Le Parisien readers via video conference, he stressed that any talks with the Kremlin must align with an agreed action plan and proceed from a position of strength, according to Ukrinform.

Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine alone determines its future, rejecting external interference. He argued that just as nations like France or the U.S. decide their own paths, so must Ukraine.

He also highlighted the need for a robust peace plan to ensure fair conditions for dialogue with Russia. Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine’s current position is neither weak nor fully strong, citing uncertainties about NATO membership and the timeline for EU accession. He asserted that negotiations under current conditions would give Russia undue control over Ukraine’s fate. Only after establishing a clear and strong framework, he said, could discussions with Moscow take place.

Ukraine does not yet have the strength to liberate Crimea and Donbas - Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine currently lacks the strength to fully liberate occupied Crimea and parts of Donbas under Russian control. However, he expressed confidence in the West's ability to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiations.

Speaking with Le Parisien readers, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine cannot legally cede its territories, as prohibited by its Constitution. While acknowledging Russia’s physical control over parts of Ukraine, he stressed that the occupied regions will never be legally recognized as Russian.

Zelenskyy advocated for diplomacy as a path to ending the war, clarifying that it should not legitimize Russian occupation. He called for strong involvement from the U.S. and Europe to compel Putin to pursue a diplomatic resolution.