Russian Foreign Minister Conditions Ukraine Existence on Territorial Renunciation Amid Ongoing Conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Ukraine has the right to exist only if it relinquishes control over territories where Russia held referendums in 2022, which Russia used to justify annexation of parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Lavrov described those regions' populations as culturally Russian and suggested that Ukraine’s government, formed after the 2014 coup, prioritized suppressing Russian identity. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance emphasized that Ukrainians themselves should determine their borders and reiterated that there will be no American troops deployed on Ukrainian soil, though the U.S. will continue providing security support. European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius underscored Ukraine’s sovereign right to choose its own destiny, including membership in NATO or the EU, rejecting any veto power by Russia. Reflecting on Ukraine’s independence journey, activists from the 1991 era expressed regret over early tolerance toward Russian influence, which complicated Ukraine’s path to full sovereignty. These perspectives highlight ongoing international support for Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity amid Russia’s contested claims and annexations.