Blinken assesses Ukraine's prospects for reclaiming territory
Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that Ukraine is unlikely to regain territories from Russia in the near future. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Kiev will maintain its claims to lost territory regardless of the circumstances, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
In an interview with the New York Times published on Saturday, Blinken acknowledged that Ukraine is unlikely to reclaim any territory in the near future. This remark comes as Russian forces intensify their advances in the Donbass region, specifically aiming to cut off the key Ukrainian logistical hub of Pokrovsk. Blinken expressed skepticism about Ukraine's ability to alter the dynamics of the battlefield soon, stating, “Where the line is drawn on the map at this point, I don’t think is fundamentally going to change very much.” However, he emphasized that Ukraine's claim to lost territory “will always, always be there.”
He raised the question of whether Ukraine might find ways, with support from others, to recover lost territory. According to Blinken, achieving a lasting ceasefire would entail Ukraine bolstering its deterrence capabilities, potentially through international security guarantees or by being offered “a path to NATO membership.”
Blinken also noted that the US has not identified an opportunity for diplomatic engagement with Russia that could lead to a resolution of the conflict on "just and durable terms."
In early 2022, Ukraine and Russia participated in peace negotiations in Istanbul, where a preliminary agreement was nearly reached. However, these talks were reportedly undermined by then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, leading Kiev to withdraw and opt for a military approach with Western aid.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow's willingness to explore a long-lasting peaceful resolution to the conflict, emphasizing that it should be based on the agreements made in Istanbul and the emerging “realities on the ground.”
Moscow has made it clear that there will not be a reprise of the 2014-2015 Minsk agreements, which aimed to halt the conflict between Kiev and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Senior Ukrainian and Western officials have since acknowledged that they never intended to adhere to the Minsk agreements, using the time instead to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities.
Moreover, the Kremlin has underscored that a neutral, non-aligned status for Ukraine—keeping it out of NATO—is among its principal demands for a ceasefire. Other conditions laid out by Moscow include Ukraine's demilitarization, denazification, and assurances against nuclear armament.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
In an interview with the New York Times published on Saturday, Blinken acknowledged that Ukraine is unlikely to reclaim any territory in the near future. This remark comes as Russian forces intensify their advances in the Donbass region, specifically aiming to cut off the key Ukrainian logistical hub of Pokrovsk. Blinken expressed skepticism about Ukraine's ability to alter the dynamics of the battlefield soon, stating, “Where the line is drawn on the map at this point, I don’t think is fundamentally going to change very much.” However, he emphasized that Ukraine's claim to lost territory “will always, always be there.”
He raised the question of whether Ukraine might find ways, with support from others, to recover lost territory. According to Blinken, achieving a lasting ceasefire would entail Ukraine bolstering its deterrence capabilities, potentially through international security guarantees or by being offered “a path to NATO membership.”
Blinken also noted that the US has not identified an opportunity for diplomatic engagement with Russia that could lead to a resolution of the conflict on "just and durable terms."
In early 2022, Ukraine and Russia participated in peace negotiations in Istanbul, where a preliminary agreement was nearly reached. However, these talks were reportedly undermined by then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, leading Kiev to withdraw and opt for a military approach with Western aid.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow's willingness to explore a long-lasting peaceful resolution to the conflict, emphasizing that it should be based on the agreements made in Istanbul and the emerging “realities on the ground.”
Moscow has made it clear that there will not be a reprise of the 2014-2015 Minsk agreements, which aimed to halt the conflict between Kiev and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Senior Ukrainian and Western officials have since acknowledged that they never intended to adhere to the Minsk agreements, using the time instead to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities.
Moreover, the Kremlin has underscored that a neutral, non-aligned status for Ukraine—keeping it out of NATO—is among its principal demands for a ceasefire. Other conditions laid out by Moscow include Ukraine's demilitarization, denazification, and assurances against nuclear armament.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
