Ukraine peace talks clouded by envoy's remarks on Russian regions
Steve Witkoff, the US president's envoy, has suggested in an interview with the "Wall Street Journal" that Ukraine might be less concerned about regions where the Russian language is predominant. In discussions with Vladimir Putin, Witkoff noted that the Russian president is "fixated" on territorial gains.
As reported by the "WSJ", five Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea—are crucial in peace negotiations. Witkoff, who plays a central role in the negotiations, highlighted Putin's strong focus on Ukrainian territory. He acknowledged that while Russia could potentially gain control over certain areas, it is unlikely to secure them all.
Witkoff suggested that Ukraine might be less concerned about regions where the Russian language is predominantly spoken.
Witkoff questioned whether the level of concern changes depending on the region's language, asking if areas like Russia and Ukraine—particularly those with a stronger Russian-speaking presence—are viewed as less important.
Decline in the use of the Russian language
"WSJ" notes that as a result of the Russian invasion, the use of the Russian language has decreased throughout the country. Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky, for whom Russian was the first language, firmly deny that they could ever recognise the Russian annexation of these regions.
The newspaper recalls that Witkoff first raised the issue of the regions' future after talks with Putin in March, in an interview with pro-Russian columnist Tucker Carlson. At that time, he falsely claimed that Russia controlled all these regions, confusing their number and names. He also suggested that Russian claims have justification, referring to the fictitious referendums organised by the occupying authorities.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out Witkoff's repetition of pro-Russian narratives, stating that it is not "helpful". CNN reports that Witkoff often echoes Russian talking points during private meetings at the White House, something that reportedly unsettles certain attendees. One official noted that his openness to these narratives is concerning and poses a genuine issue.
Half of Ukraine's important deposits are occupied
Let's recall that Ukraine is one of the most resource-rich countries in Europe. Twenty-two out of thirty key strategic raw materials for the EU are located on its territory. The country:
- ranks first in Europe in terms of uranium deposits,
- possesses the largest lithium resources in Europe,
- has significant deposits of titanium, nickel, copper, and cobalt,
- is a key supplier of rare earth metals.
However, about half of the deposits are located in regions under occupation or experiencing intense warfare—in the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Dnipro regions. Meanwhile, Russia faces a serious problem due to the depletion of its own deposits, especially as most new ones are located in hard-to-reach areas of the Arctic and the Far East.
