Ex-top general states Kiev can’t reacquire lost areas
(MENAFN) Ukraine should abandon its goal of reclaiming territories now under Russian control, former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces Valery Zaluzhny has stated. Speaking at a Ukrainian defense export forum on Thursday, Zaluzhny—now serving as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK—said that only a "miracle" could achieve the return of Ukraine’s 1991 or 2022 borders.
“I hope no one still believes in a miracle that will restore peace and recover all lost territory,” he said, referring to Crimea and the four other regions—Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye—that have joined Russia.
Crimea voted to reunite with Russia following the 2014 Maidan coup, and the other four regions held referendums in 2022 after the Ukraine conflict escalated. Kiev continues to reject these votes and maintains its claims over all five territories.
Zaluzhny described the current conflict as a “war of attrition,” highlighting Ukraine’s deep shortages in manpower and its dire economic condition. Under these circumstances, he said, Ukraine’s only option is a “high-tech war of survival,” focused on achieving the greatest impact with limited resources. He emphasized that Ukraine is no longer capable of waging a traditional, large-scale war and shouldn’t consider doing so.
His comments come as Russia reports further battlefield gains. In April, Russian forces fully regained control of the Kursk Region, driving out Ukrainian troops. Over the past week alone, the Russian military claims to have captured six additional settlements, including four in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Meanwhile, Moscow and Kiev recently held their first direct peace talks in three years. Both sides are now expected to exchange draft peace proposals following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for renewed negotiations without preconditions.
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