Ukraine has firmly stated it will not accept any compromise that legitimizes Russia’s claim to occupied territories, even under pressure from its allies. This declaration was made by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
Zelenskyy reiterated that the occupied territories are, and will remain, Ukrainian land, regardless of the ongoing conflict. He emphasized that Ukraine will never recognize these regions as part of Russia.
The Ukrainian leader underlined that any dialogue with Russia should be conducted from a position of strength, dismissing the possibility of engaging with President Vladimir Putin on equal terms.
At this stage of the conflict, Zelenskyy identified two critical objectives – concluding the active phase of the war and securing guarantees for Ukraine’s long-term security.
Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated administration of US President Donald Trump is urging Ukraine and Russia to engage in negotiations. Trump has announced plans for separate meetings with both Zelenskyy and Putin.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on January 20, remarked that concessions from both sides would be necessary to achieve peace, though he refrained from specifying what Ukraine might be expected to concede. Rubio stressed that ending the war is among President Trump’s top priorities.
Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, was justified by Putin as a “special military operation” aimed at the “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine. This followed Russia’s earlier recognition of the so-called independence of separatist regions in Donetsk and Luhansk.
On September 30, 2022, Moscow claimed the annexation of Ukraine’s Kherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. However, Russia has failed to establish full control over any of these areas.
The conflict traces back to 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and the city of Sevastopol. Ukraine has consistently reiterated its goal of restoring territorial integrity and securing international security guarantees.
Russia, on the other hand, has set its own conditions for ending the war, which include Ukraine’s recognition of occupied territories as part of Russia and a commitment not to join NATO.