Zelenskyy responds to ultimatum on 'recognizing' Donbas as Russian
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Office of the President of Ukraine)
Any “recognition” of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine as Russian will not benefit Russia because not everyone recognizes them, and most importantly, Ukraine itself does not recognize them, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy reminded that the Russians demand that Donbas be recognized as “Russian,” but this will not give them anything, even if some of the leaders of other countries take such a step.
"First, not everyone will do so, as my Polish colleague said, and second, Ukraine has a president who signs documents. Thank God. It is not other leaders who sign important documents on behalf of Ukraine," he said.
Zelenskyy added that, given this, Ukrainian territories remain Ukrainian. Despite the fact that the current status of these territories is temporarily occupied by Russia.
During negotiations in Abu Dhabi today, Russia put forward a new condition for ending the war. Now the Kremlin demands international recognition of Donbas as “Russian.” Previously, Russia demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from there and the transfer of the region under the full control of the Kremlin.
According to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, Russia's territorial and political demands are much broader than the Kremlin's statements about Donbas. Russian president Vladimir Putin has not given up on his dream of occupying the whole of Ukraine.
Ukrainians are divided on the idea of giving Donbas to the Russians for the sake of peace. Only 40% of Ukrainians agree with the need to give it to the Russians, while 52% are categorically against it.
