Trump adviser says Ukraine must recognize territorial 'reality'
According to the incoming US national security adviser, Ukraine is unlikely to remove every Russian presence from all the territories it asserts. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Michael Waltz has stated that recognizing the reality of the situation on the ground is a crucial step toward bringing the conflict to a conclusion. As the incoming US National Security Adviser, he acknowledged that it is not feasible to “expel every Russian from every inch” of land claimed by Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula.
In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Waltz expressed that acknowledging “that reality” is now a significant move towards resolving the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev, noting that Ukraine’s supporters are beginning to accept this perspective.
“Everybody knows that this [conflict] has to end somehow diplomatically. I just don’t think it’s realistic to say we’re going to expel every Russian from every inch of Ukrainian soil. Even Crimea – President[-elect Donald] Trump has acknowledged that reality, and I think it has been a huge step forward that the entire world is acknowledging that reality,” he said.
Waltz emphasized that recognizing the unlikelihood of reverting to Ukraine’s original post-Soviet borders paves the way for addressing how to “no longer perpetuate this conflict and how… we no longer allow it to escalate in a way that drags in the entire world.”
His comments echo sentiments previously expressed by other close allies of Trump, including his vice president, J.D. Vance. Ahead of the November election, Vance suggested that Kiev might find itself in a position of ceding some territory to Russia.
This perspective represents a notable divergence from Kiev’s stated aim of reclaiming all of its post-Soviet territory, which has been accompanied by a clear refusal to engage in substantial negotiations with Russia. Conversely, Moscow views the five regions formerly part of Ukraine—namely Kherson, Zaporozhye, Donetsk, Lugansk People’s Republics, and Crimea—as integral parts of its territory.
Following the 2014 Maidan coup in Ukraine, Crimea separated and subsequently joined Russia through a referendum. The four additional regions were integrated into Russia in late 2022 after a significant majority of their populations supported the move during separate referendums. Last year, Moscow demanded that Kiev withdraw its forces from areas still under Ukrainian control in order to resume the long-stalled negotiation process.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Waltz expressed that acknowledging “that reality” is now a significant move towards resolving the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev, noting that Ukraine’s supporters are beginning to accept this perspective.
“Everybody knows that this [conflict] has to end somehow diplomatically. I just don’t think it’s realistic to say we’re going to expel every Russian from every inch of Ukrainian soil. Even Crimea – President[-elect Donald] Trump has acknowledged that reality, and I think it has been a huge step forward that the entire world is acknowledging that reality,” he said.
Waltz emphasized that recognizing the unlikelihood of reverting to Ukraine’s original post-Soviet borders paves the way for addressing how to “no longer perpetuate this conflict and how… we no longer allow it to escalate in a way that drags in the entire world.”
His comments echo sentiments previously expressed by other close allies of Trump, including his vice president, J.D. Vance. Ahead of the November election, Vance suggested that Kiev might find itself in a position of ceding some territory to Russia.
This perspective represents a notable divergence from Kiev’s stated aim of reclaiming all of its post-Soviet territory, which has been accompanied by a clear refusal to engage in substantial negotiations with Russia. Conversely, Moscow views the five regions formerly part of Ukraine—namely Kherson, Zaporozhye, Donetsk, Lugansk People’s Republics, and Crimea—as integral parts of its territory.
Following the 2014 Maidan coup in Ukraine, Crimea separated and subsequently joined Russia through a referendum. The four additional regions were integrated into Russia in late 2022 after a significant majority of their populations supported the move during separate referendums. Last year, Moscow demanded that Kiev withdraw its forces from areas still under Ukrainian control in order to resume the long-stalled negotiation process.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
