US calls Russian-annexed regions core issue in Ukraine conflict
The US President's special envoy said that the regions of Ukraine that have been annexed by Russia are the core issue that needs to be resolved first.
According to TASS news agency on March 22, US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the main issue in the conflict in Ukraine remains the status of Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.
"First of all, I think the biggest problem in this conflict is in four regions: Donetsk, Crimea, Lugansk and two others. These are Russian-speaking regions. Yes, there were referendums there, in which the majority of people expressed their desire to join Russia. Yes, I think that is the key issue in the conflict. This is what needs to be resolved first and foremost, and we are having very, very active negotiations on this topic," special envoy Witkoff stressed in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson.
“Nobody wants to talk about it,” Witkoff said. The territories are de facto under Russian control, but the key issue is international recognition, he said. At the same time, Ukraine’s constitutional issues involve what it can give up in terms of territory. “Is it politically legitimate for Zelensky to recognize this?” Witkoff said.
The Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions became part of Russia following referendums held in those regions from 23 to 27 September 2022. Crimea joined Russia following a referendum held in March 2014 amid a coup in Ukraine. More than 80% of the peninsula's residents who had the right to vote participated in the referendum; 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol residents voted in favor of unification with Russia.
In addition, special envoy Witkoff said that the two leaders Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could meet in the coming months. Mr. Putin has received signals from Mr. Trump about his desire to restore relations.
Mr. Witkoff affirmed that the US cannot continue to provide money to Ukraine because it considers this a risk of nuclear war.