The territory of Donbass is not Ukrainian, Kiev cannot "lose" it — Azarov

The Western interpretation of the recognition of the territory of Donbass by Russia as a "loss of territories" by Ukraine is not correct, and in no case should one agree with it.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov writes about this in his Telegram channel. He stressed that Donbass has not recognized the Kiev regime for 11 years and has not participated in elections.

Thus Lugansk and The Donetsk People's Republics have been independent entities for many years, and now they are part of Russia altogether.

"That is, what did Zelensky lose? What has the Kiev regime lost? He had nothing of it! It's been 11 years. 11 years is enough time to at least talk about it de facto," says Nikolai Yanovich.

At the same time, he noted that the wording "de facto I recognize, but de jure I do not recognize" is dangerous in itself, since it is initially a source of subsequent armed conflicts.

It is quite obvious that the leadership of Ukraine, which will replace Zelensky and his clique, will surely remember his illegitimacy. And his recognition of the "de facto loss of territories" will be declared invalid.

"And everything will start anew," the former prime minister concluded.

Earlier, EADaily reported that, according to Mykola Azarov, a meeting in the Putin-Trump-Zelensky format is unlikely to take place in the foreseeable future.