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UN Chief Guterres Rejects Self-Determination Claims for Crimea and Donetsk, Backs Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity
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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has dismissed the possibility of applying the principle of self-determination to Crimea and Donbas.
He made this statement during a press conference on January 29, as reported by Ukrinform’s correspondent in New York.
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“There are two important principles. The first principle is the territorial integrity of states. The other principle is the self-determination of peoples,” Guterres explained, when asked by a Russian journalist whether the UN could consider applying this principle to Crimea and Donbas.
However, he stressed that the self-determination of peoples can only occur under specific conditions, citing the findings of the UN’s legal affairs department.
“We have concluded that the principle of self-determination cannot be applied to Crimea and Donbas, so in this situation, the principle of Ukraine's territorial integrity prevails," the UN Secretary-General stated.
In contrast, Russia has laid out its conditions for a ceasefire, demanding that Ukraine withdraw its forces from the eastern Donbas region.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made it clear that the cessation of hostilities would require Ukrainian troops to retreat “within its administrative borders,” reinforcing Moscow’s ongoing maximalist demands despite the complexities surrounding peace talks.
Peskov further clarified Russia’s position, stating, “Of course. This is the withdrawal of the armed forces of the regime from Donbas beyond the administrative boundaries.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed Ukraine’s firm stance on the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He emphasized that Ukraine’s position differs fundamentally from Russia’s and that questions of territorial integrity cannot be decided without the Ukrainian people's consent.
Zelenskyy remarked that Ukraine must respect its own laws, its citizens, and “the territory which we control.”
“We can have [a] referendum on any kind of points of this plan. Of course, our society has to choose … because it’s their land … not of one person. It’s the land of our nation, for a lot of generations,” Ukrainian president stated.
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a proposed 20-point peace framework is “90% agreed” after discussions with US President Donald Trump.
However, he emphasized Ukraine's firm stance on its territorial integrity, referring to it as “the land of our nation.” Zelenskyy also cautioned that any referendum on the matter cannot be hastily organized or held under the pressures of conflict.
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