territorial

Article 4 brings the defensive alliance together for consultation when a member's "territorial integrity, political independence or security… is threatened".

Last year the European Union sanctioned him for "supporting actions and policies that undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine."

On Friday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said "China respects Afghanistan's territorial integrity and sovereignty", adding that "the future of Afghanistan should be in the hands of Afghan people".

After hours under Putin’s sway, he came away talking not about what Russia would do for peace but what territorial concessions Ukraine would make.

He and others point to a strategic shift by the militants, who no longer rely solely on military confrontation to assert territorial control.