Russia Seeks Recognition of Occupied Ukrainian Territories

Russia continues to push for international recognition of Ukrainian territories it occupies, its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday. Moscow insists that areas captured during the war should be formally acknowledged as part of Russia under any peace agreement.

Ukraine has firmly rejected this claim, saying it will never accept Russian control over its land and is determined to reclaim territories seized by Moscow.

Russia claims it has annexed five regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea, the latter taken in 2014. Lavrov stated that “for a durable peace, the new territorial realities… must be recognised and formalised in accordance with international law.”

The question of who controls Russian-occupied land remains a major obstacle in stalled peace negotiations. Ukraine has demanded a ceasefire before discussing territorial matters, while Russia refuses to pause its military offensive until a full agreement is reached.

In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga criticized Russia, saying it is offering “old ultimatums” and showing no willingness for meaningful negotiations. He called for stronger sanctions to pressure Moscow.

Turkey, which has hosted several rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks, reported last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested freezing front lines in southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia if Ukraine fully surrendered Donetsk.

Currently, Russia has nearly full control of Lugansk and around 80% of Donetsk, according to analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).