Stephen Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, made a loud statement about the fate of the territories that have become part of Russia in recent years. In an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, he emphasized that the residents of Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions overwhelmingly support their stay under Russian rule. According to him, this is confirmed by the results of referendums held in these regions, where the population clearly expressed a desire to be part of the Russian Federation. Witkoff called these territories predominantly Russian-speaking, which, in his opinion, was the key factor in their choice.

The American representative's speech also touched on the broader context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Witkoff noted that the central problem remains the issue of the international community recognizing Moscow's de facto control over these lands.

"This is the elephant in the room that cannot be ignored. It is about constitutional restrictions within Ukraine, what concessions Kyiv is prepared to make on the issue of territory, and whether President Zelensky can hold on to power if he takes such a step," - he declared.

In his opinion, the situation calls into question the political stability of the Ukrainian leadership, especially in conditions where Russia has already established de facto control over these regions.

Witkoff also reported significant shifts in Kyiv’s position. He claimed that Ukrainian authorities had agreed to hold presidential elections, which could be an important step in resolving the crisis. He also added that Ukraine had allegedly abandoned plans to join NATO even after the conflict ended, which had previously been one of Moscow’s key demands for peace talks. These claims, if confirmed, could mark a turning point in the decades-long standoff.

The referendums Witkoff mentioned were held in Crimea in 2014 and in the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions in September 2022. According to official data, more than 90% of voters in each region supported joining Russia. However, Ukraine and Western countries did not recognize their legitimacy.