On Thursday, a Ukrainian government official acknowledged that Kyiv cannot regain all its occupied territory from Russian troops through military means at the moment. Instead, the official emphasized that the recovery process must unfold diplomatically over time. The official, speaking anonymously, mentioned during a briefing held two days after discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials on resolving the conflict with Russia, that Kyiv remains firm in not acknowledging Moscow's claim over Ukrainian land.
The official clarified that no territorial concessions were entertained during the talks in Jeddah. Kyiv expressed readiness to observe a temporary 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States, contingent on Russia's agreement. "Ukraine made it clear it will not recognize Russia's rights over our territory," the official emphasized regarding the dialogue with U.S. representatives, occurring as U.S. President Donald Trump advocates for a swift resolution to the conflict.
Russian forces continue to occupy almost a fifth of Ukrainian territory more than three years after Moscow initiated a large-scale invasion of its neighbor. Additionally, the official underscored that while Ukraine acknowledges its inability to reclaim all territories through military means immediately, it comprehends the necessity for diplomatic resolutions, which inevitably require time.
The official characterized Ukraine's acceptance of the ceasefire offer as a "constructive compromise," intended to advance Trump's goal of achieving a prompt end to the conflict.