Envoy hints at regional compromise amid Russian language debates
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President's envoy, suggested in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that Ukraine might care less about regions where the Russian language is prevalent. In discussions with Vladimir Putin, Witkoff noted that the Russian president is "fixated" on territorial gains.
The Wall Street Journal reports that five Ukrainian regions under Russian occupation — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea — play a central role in the ongoing peace discussions. Steve Witkoff, now a key participant in the negotiations, pointed out that Putin remains intensely focused on gaining control over Ukrainian territory. He suggested that while Russia could potentially retain some of these regions, it is unlikely to secure them all.
Witkoff suggested that Ukraine might care less about regions where the Russian language is predominant.
As quoted by the newspaper, Witkoff remarked that both Russia and Ukraine place importance on these five regions. He questioned whether Ukraine values them any less simply because some of the areas have a predominantly Russian-speaking population.
Decline in Russian language use
The WSJ notes that, as a result of the Russian invasion, the use of the Russian language has declined nationwide. Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky, for whom Russian was originally the first language, firmly deny that they would ever recognize the Russian annexation of these regions.
The newspaper recalls that Witkoff first raised the issue of the region's future after talks with Putin in March, in an interview with pro-Russian commentator Tucker Carlson. At that time, he falsely claimed that Russia controlled all of them, confusing their number and names. He also suggested that Russian claims are justified, pointing to fictitious referenda organized by the occupying authorities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out the repetition of pro-Russian narratives by Witkoff, stating that it was not helpful. According to CNN, Witkoff also repeats Russian narratives in closed-door meetings at the White House, which "certainly causes discomfort for some in the room." Witkoff seems very susceptible to some Russian narratives, and that is a real problem, one official told CNN.
Half of important Ukrainian deposits are occupied
Ukraine is one of the most resource-rich countries in Europe. 22 out of 30 key strategic resources for the EU can be found on its territory. This country:
- ranks first in Europe in terms of uranium deposits,
- has the largest lithium reserves in Europe,
- possesses significant deposits of titanium, nickel, copper, and cobalt,
- is a key supplier of rare earth metals.
However, about half of these deposits are located in regions under occupation or experiencing intense warfare – in the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Meanwhile, Russia faces a significant problem with depleting its resources, particularly since most new ones are located in difficult-to-access areas of the Arctic and the Far East.
