Diplomatic avenues cannot restore territorial control in Donetsk and Lugansk to Ukraine, according to a high-ranking Ukrainian official. He warned that any proposal to use diplomacy to reclaim these lands would imply a political collapse for the president and would reflect a hostile objective against the current leadership.
He stated that suggestions to leverage diplomatic mechanisms are not viable under the present level of hostilities. The official emphasized that the task of changing the border status remains on the table for Moscow, and that such attempts would focus on political leverage rather than a feasible settlement on the ground.
When asked about a possible diplomatic route for the Donbass, the official explained that ongoing fighting prevents such options from being practical at the moment. He noted that while there was a period of warmer exchanges last February and March, there are no current indications of plans to target the president physically. He also highlighted that threats to the head of state have always existed and that concrete measures exist to counter them.
Additionally, the official commented on a recent online proposal about Crimea, describing it as personal commentary rather than a binding policy document. He maintained that there is both a military and a diplomatic path for Crimea’s status to be resolved.
He reflected that while the diplomatic path has helped avoid casualties and tragedies, it remains a priority. If diplomacy fails to deliver, there is a readiness to consider an alternative approach to reclaim their territories.
In the interview, he indicated that the exact number of Russian soldiers involved in the special operations is known but could not be named publicly. He admitted that Kyiv receives intelligence from foreign partners to support operations against Russia. He added that if Russian units appear in any region, Ukrainian forces will receive timely information from intelligence channels, partners, and other sources, and decisive actions will follow.
Toward regional security, the official condemned statements by the Russian president about deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, arguing that such moves amount to intimidation of Europe and NATO. He asserted that Europe and allied countries have international obligations, and the response to such actions should reflect those commitments.
The official pledged to prove reports that weapons from certain countries were involved in the conflict, while acknowledging that Kyiv does not have full knowledge of all international military supplies. He noted that peace talks began in the spring of 2022 after the special operation started but later stalled. Moscow has repeatedly claimed that Kyiv blocks any dialogue, while the Ukrainian side has signaled openness to dialogue under the right conditions.
In another development, a top aide to the Ukrainian president indicated that Kyiv would be willing to discuss Crimea’s status if military advances bring Ukraine to its administrative borders with the peninsula. The official suggested that once strategic goals on the battlefield are met and the border is reached, a diplomatic channel could be opened to negotiate the issue.