Hold Occupied Region
Kremlin: Do not want to conquer any more Ukrainian territories
08/06/2023 8:26 p.m
In Saudi Arabia, more than 30 countries are looking for possible ways to peace in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Kremlin announces its future plans for the attacked country. There should be no further conquests. But the areas already occupied should remain under Russian control.
Aside from the big Ukraine meeting in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said military action in Ukraine will continue for the foreseeable future. According to Tass, Moscow does not want to conquer any other Ukrainian territories. But Russia wants to control the areas enshrined in its constitution. These are the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, annexed in 2014, and since 2022 the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Cherson. The mainland areas are militarily only partially in Russian hands.
Meanwhile, in Jeddah, representatives from around 40 countries were holding talks about ways to end the war. No invitation went to Russia, which started the war 17 months ago. There was no final declaration – as was the case at a similar meeting in Copenhagen in June. However, EU circles said there was broad support for continuing to discuss the most important points from Zelensky’s “peace formula”. These include “food, nuclear and environmental security” as well as humanitarian aid. The core of Zelenskyj’s formula is the demand for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire national territory of Ukraine.
According to diplomats, part of the peace plan presented by Saudi Arabia is the integrity of Ukraine, a ceasefire on all fronts, the start of peace talks under UN supervision and the exchange of prisoners. In addition, Saudi Arabia informed Russia about the progress of the talks.
“China has actively participated”
The hope in Jeddah was also to gain even more support for Ukraine through the participation of states from the so-called Global South. Some of them have not had a clear position on the war so far. After Russia withdrew from the grain agreement to export Ukrainian grain in July, many of them are feeling the effects of higher grain prices particularly badly. In particular, diplomats rated the participation of China, which was not represented in Copenhagen, as a success. “China actively participated and welcomed the idea of a third meeting at this level,” said an EU official. China is one of Russia’s most important partners.
Kyiv considered the meeting a success. Ukraine’s position has been strengthened after the talks, said the head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak. All participating countries have committed themselves to the UN Charter, international law, respect for sovereignty and the territorial integrity of states. In a speech, Zelenskyy praised the meeting of allies united by international law.