Context:
Five contested Ukrainian regions, according to it, are currently ruled out by Russia from any negotiation: Crimea (2014), Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson (2022). A spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, emphasized that all these territories have now become “an inseparable part” of Russia and have been declared “non negotiable”.
Part of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson remains under Ukrainian control though it has been claimed so by Russia.
Background
- Crimea was annexed in 2014 by Russia following a disputed referendum which nearly all other parts of Ukraine and the Western world rejected.
- In September 2022 Russia annexed four more regions, which had failed to control entirely when Russia’s large invasion had already been initiated.
- Several counter offensives have since been taken by Ukraine, with which they have managed to regain some of its previously occupied lands.
Latest Developments
- Advances of Ukraine
- Ukrainian forces have seized territory in Russia’s Kursk region, thus heightening the tension further.
- Wedding Exchange?
- By hinting at the possibility of some sort of territorial exchange with Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked rumors, but Russia has otherwise categorically rejected such.
The Implications
- Diplomatic Stalemate
- As Russia does not agree to any negotiation, the hostilities have indeed moved into a European style deadlock with limited space for diplomatic settlement.
- Further escalation from the hostilities may ensue as fighting becomes more heated in Ukraine as it follows through on its counters and as it continues to solidify as a nation on behalf of its citizens.
- West to reject Russian position by extending support to Ukraine and, of course, not recognizing any annexation.
Source: The Hindu
