Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stated that he never called for the need to "transfer territory" from Ukraine to Russia in order to settle their relations.
Earlier, addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Kissinger called on the West to influence Ukraine to resume negotiations with Russia.
Kissinger said in an interview with Time magazine on Monday: "I've never talked about these (regional concessions). I said that the best ceasefire dividing line was the status quo ante ".
According to Kissinger, Russia must return to Ukraine "15% of the territory" belonging to Kiev before the start of the special military operation on 24 February, before a "real" ceasefire between the two parties can be reached.
At the same time, Kissinger described part of the Donbass and Crimea as "disputed territory", explaining that regional differences must be considered separately in any negotiations.
Crimea, in particular, had a meaning "beyond the current crisis" for Russia.
He stressed that the conflict should not turn "from a war for Ukraine's freedom to a war for Russia's future".
Kissinger: Settlement in Ukraine should begin in two months
The former US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger, stressed that "the settlement in Ukraine must begin over the next two months to avoid serious consequences for international relations with Europe."
"In my view, the move towards negotiations and peace must begin in the next two months in order to determine the outcome before the consequences and difficulties begin, which will be more difficult to deal with, including relations between Russia and Europe and Ukraine with Europe," he said during his participation at the World Economic Forum in Davos via video.
He added that "the ideal situation is to return the line to the status quo", noting that "the outcome of the current military and political crisis in Ukraine will affect relations between countries in the future".
"Achieving Ukraine's neutral status and its formation as a bridge between Russia and Europe is the main objective of the current situation."
He explained that "the ideal result would be if Ukraine replaced a neutral state as a bridge between Russia and Europe."
The work of the Davos International Economic Forum was launched on Sunday, this time after its effectiveness was held in the previous two years via videoconference due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Forum's organizers, more than 2,000 people, including 26 heads of State, will participate in its work this year, which will run until May 50.
Highlights of the Forum's focus include the situation in Ukraine, as well as the problems of migration, food security and climate.
Representatives of Russia were not invited this year, following the Forum's freezing of relations with Russian organizations against the backdrop of the special military operation in Ukraine.
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