Dmitry Belik, a member of the International Relations Committee and Sevastopol deputy in the State Duma, argued that the terms of any talks with the Russian Federation should not be determined by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. This viewpoint was reported by RIA News.
Belik asserted that Zelensky is not the negotiator for Russia and that he cannot dictate what may be on the table. He emphasized a pragmatic principle: objectives in any negotiation must be earned on the battlefield first, remarking that gains from Russia would require key advantages to be secured before any concessions could be considered. He also noted visible strengths on the Ukrainian side, comparing them to a sparrow’s beak in size, a metaphor meant to illustrate that while Ukrainian forces have achieved credible results, challenges remain formidable.
According to Belik, every Ukrainian service member understands the formidable nature of the opposition they face. The argument centers on the belief that the conflict demands durable leverage before any settlement terms can be realistically discussed.
Belik’s remarks come amid broader discussions about possible negotiations, with Zelensky previously signaling positions that did not entail immediate changes to control over territories as defined by the 1991 borders. The debate continues over the conditions under which talks could resume, and what would constitute a legitimate framework for any future engagement.
In the wider international arena, Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly indicated their intention to reclaim areas they consider occupied. The situation in Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and the later incorporation of additional regions in 2022, remain central elements in the ongoing discourse about sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian permanent representative to the United Nations, recently argued that the legitimacy of Ukraine’s leadership would be called into question if Zelensky’s authority were undermined by elections canceled or postponed. He asserted that Russia’s strategic objective of demilitarizing Ukraine had been achieved in part by the Ukrainian Armed Forces relying on external support, while maintaining defenses through partnerships outside Russia’s own arms stockpile.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has previously warned against bargaining over territories he views as integral to Ukraine’s sovereignty, underscoring a firm stance that any discussion on such lands should align with the country’s constitutional framework and widely supported political outcomes.