The Kremlin says, "Ukraine must face reality and accept demands"

Henry Kissinger Expresses Position on 'Ukraine Territory Concession Theory'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Kremlin in Russia stated on the 26th (local time) that Ukraine must face reality and accept Russia's demands.

According to TASS news agency on the same day, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said, "Russia is waiting for Ukraine to accept Russia's demands and to realize the de facto situation as it is."

This statement reflects Russia's position regarding former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's remarks that Ukraine must cede some territory to Russia in order to end the war.

Earlier, in a virtual speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland, former Secretary Kissinger analyzed, "To calm the situation, the pre-war territorial status of Ukraine must be accepted."

This implies that Ukraine should not attempt to reclaim the Crimean Peninsula (called the Krim Peninsula by Russia), which Russia forcibly annexed in 2014, as well as the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions where pro-Russian forces established republics.

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February, Russia has been demanding through negotiations the annexation of the Krim Peninsula and recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.

Former Secretary Kissinger added, "The ideal outcome is for Ukraine to become a kind of neutral country between Russia and Europe."

In response, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian presidential office, stated, "The calls for territorial concessions raised by some in the West are acts of stabbing Ukraine in the back."