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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Sunday that if Russia proceeds with referendums on joining Russia in occupied areas of his country, there will be no discussions with Ukraine or its foreign partners.
After starting what the Kremlin refers to as a “special military operation” into its neighbor’s territory, Russian forces and their rebel partners now control huge swaths of territory in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region and in southern parts. Officials in both areas have suggested organising referendums.
In his nightly video address, Zelensky stated that Kiev would not cede any land to Russia.
“Our country’s position remains unchanged. We will not give up anything that belongs to us “Zelensky stated.
“If the invaders continue down the route of phoney referendums, they will effectively kill any prospect of discussions with Ukraine and the free world, which the Russian side would plainly require at some point.”
Russian and Ukrainian officials met many times shortly after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February.
However, little progress was achieved, and no meetings have been place since late March, with each party blaming the other for the cessation in communications.
Russian military control the majority of the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, and officials have stated that a referendum on joining Russia could take place in the coming weeks or months.
In the Donbas, Russian proxies seized territory in 2014, launched independence referendums, and declared “people’s republics” in the Luhansk and Donetsk areas. On the eve of the February invasion, the Kremlin acknowledged the republics.
The governor of the Luhansk region, which has been nearly totally under Russian control for several weeks, said over the weekend that Russia was planning a fresh referendum in newly acquired territories and was offering citizens incentives to participate.
