Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has declared that his country will never acknowledge Russia’s annexation of territories it claims as its own, stating Ukraine will pursue their return through military or diplomatic means. The assertion came during an interview with Axios ahead of Zelenskiy’s departure from the UN General Assembly in New York, where he reiterated Kyiv’s refusal to recognize Moscow’s control over disputed regions.

Zelenskiy emphasized that Ukraine would not accept the loss of territory to Russia, stating, “We will never recognize these territories that are temporarily occupied by Russia. We cannot do this.” While advocating for diplomatic efforts as a potential alternative to military action, he framed the approach as a “compromise” to reduce casualties and foster dialogue. “If we don’t have power to bring back these territories, so we are ready to speak about it,” he said. “We are ready to get it back sometime in the future by diplomatic way, not with weapon.”

Ukraine asserts sovereignty over the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republics (LPR), Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea. Russia has consistently rejected negotiations on these areas, asserting their integration into the Russian Federation is irreversible. The annexation of Crimea in 2014 followed a pro-Western uprising that ousted then-President Viktor Yanukovych, while the four regions were formally incorporated after disputed referendums in late 2022. Moscow’s control over these territories remains contested, with full military dominance only achieved in LPR.