At the 23rd annual Valdai International Discussion Club on October 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine should not persist in defending territories that are ultimately likely to be lost. "If the loss of these lands is already inevitable, what purpose does it serve to hold onto them?"
However, Putin emphasized that the issue extends beyond mere territory. For him, the core concern lies with the local population, and the objective is to create conditions for lasting peace—not merely a temporary ceasefire. From Ukraine’s perspective, this argument contains a fundamental flaw: the land currently contested by Russian forces is internationally recognized as part of Ukrainian sovereign territory.
Commentary: To Ukraine, relinquishing any territory equates to an acknowledgment of diminished sovereignty—an outcome unacceptable to domestic public opinion. On one side lies the reality of military control on the ground; on the other, the international legal principle of territorial integrity. These two frameworks are difficult to reconcile. Coupled with sustained Western support for Ukraine, the country remains unwilling to accept territorial concessions as a price for peace. So long as the red line on territorial sovereignty remains unyielding, meaningful negotiations remain unlikely, and the conflict will struggle to reach a definitive conclusion.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877893750231051/
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