Oleksandr Merezhko, Ukrainian lawmaker and head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, stated this on Espreso TV."If we talk about Putin's so-called grand strategy, it is obvious that he is not interested in seizing, occupying part of Ukraine's territory. He might only be interested in it as a staging ground for a further offensive," the MP stated.According to Merezhko, Putin has not abandoned his main goal - the destruction of Ukraine, its subjugation, and the further use of Ukraine's territory and potential to establish hegemony in Europe."That is, this is his main goal. Not only the restoration of the Soviet empire, but also the restoration of Russian hegemony in Europe. That is, this is his geostrategic goal," he said.In his opinion, this is very well understood in Europe."Therefore, indeed, he cannot be satisfied with just, for example, even if the world recognizes this occupation, this annexation of these territories, even those that he has already written into his constitution - this will absolutely not be able to stop Putin. He will continue to do this," Merezhko added.The lawmaker believes that the Russian dictator is saying this now with one provocative goal."He understands that it is completely unrealistic for the world, let alone Ukraine, to recognize this annexation. And he uses this as a tool of war, as a tool of provocation in order to undermine stability within Ukraine and solidarity between Europe and the United States. As well as solidarity within Europe itself," concluded the head of the Verkhovna Rada committee.On August 8, Bloomberg and the WSJ reported that American and Russian officials are considering options for a deal that could end the war, but which would involve Russia retaining control over the occupied territories of Ukraine. Journalists wrote that according to the terms put forward by Putin, Ukraine would have to hand over the entire eastern Donbas and Crimea to Russia, withdrawing troops from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. In return, Russia promises to stop its offensive in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.Later, the German publication Bild wrote that Putin still wants to seize the entire territory of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.