The ongoing conflict in Ukraine sees the future of its war-torn eastern and southern regions as the primary contention in any potential peace negotiations. Kyiv has consistently and unequivocally rejected any proposals that involve ceding territory seized by Russia since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, or indeed since the 2014 annexation of Crimea. The Ukrainian government maintains that its territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized 1991 borders, is non-negotiable and a fundamental prerequisite for any lasting ceasefire or peace agreement.
These disputed territories, which include Crimea and significant portions of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, have borne the brunt of intense fighting and extensive destruction. Their strategic and historical significance, combined with their current status under Russian occupation, places them at the core of any diplomatic initiatives aiming to resolve the conflict. Discussions surrounding a potential resolution, including high-level talks between international leaders, inevitably pivot around the disposition of these areas. Ukraine’s firm stance that no land will be relinquished underscores the deep chasm that remains between the warring sides regarding the path to peace, making the status of these front-line territories the central obstacle to de-escalation.
