Ukrainian President Volodymyr zelensky said on Sunday Russia Joining Russia went ahead with the referendum in the occupied territories, no talks could take place Ukraine or its international partners.
Russian forces and their separatist allies now occupy large areas in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine and the southern regions, which Kremlin Calls “Special Military Operations” in its neighbor’s territory. Officials in both regions have expressed the possibility of holding a referendum.
In his nightly video address, Zelensky said Kyiv was firm on its position of not giving any territory to Russia.
Zelensky said, “The condition of our country remains the same as it has always been. We will not give up anything that is ours.”
“If the occupiers continue on the path of a proxy referendum, they will close to themselves any opportunity for dialogue with Ukraine and the free world, which the Russian side will clearly need at some point.”
Russian and Ukrainian officials held several negotiating sessions shortly after the Russian military launched an invasion of Ukraine in February.
But little progress was made and no meetings have taken place since late March, with each side blaming the other for halting contacts.
The Russian army occupies most of the Kherson Officials in the region and in charge in southern Ukraine have suggested that a referendum on joining Russia could be held within the coming weeks or months.
In the Donbass, Russian proxies occupied part of the region in 2014, held an independence referendum and declared “people’s republics” in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The Kremlin recognized the republics on the eve of the February invasion.
The governor of the Luhansk region – almost entirely under Russian control for several weeks – suggested over the weekend that Russia was preparing a new referendum in the newly occupied territories and offering benefits for residents to participate.
Russian forces and their separatist allies now occupy large areas in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine and the southern regions, which Kremlin Calls “Special Military Operations” in its neighbor’s territory. Officials in both regions have expressed the possibility of holding a referendum.
In his nightly video address, Zelensky said Kyiv was firm on its position of not giving any territory to Russia.
Zelensky said, “The condition of our country remains the same as it has always been. We will not give up anything that is ours.”
“If the occupiers continue on the path of a proxy referendum, they will close to themselves any opportunity for dialogue with Ukraine and the free world, which the Russian side will clearly need at some point.”
Russian and Ukrainian officials held several negotiating sessions shortly after the Russian military launched an invasion of Ukraine in February.
But little progress was made and no meetings have taken place since late March, with each side blaming the other for halting contacts.
The Russian army occupies most of the Kherson Officials in the region and in charge in southern Ukraine have suggested that a referendum on joining Russia could be held within the coming weeks or months.
In the Donbass, Russian proxies occupied part of the region in 2014, held an independence referendum and declared “people’s republics” in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The Kremlin recognized the republics on the eve of the February invasion.
The governor of the Luhansk region – almost entirely under Russian control for several weeks – suggested over the weekend that Russia was preparing a new referendum in the newly occupied territories and offering benefits for residents to participate.