Ukraine's language dilemma: Envoy's controversial suggestion
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President's envoy, suggested in an interview with the "Wall Street Journal" that Ukraine might place less importance on regions where the Russian language is dominant. In discussions with Vladimir Putin, Witkoff noted that the Russian president is "fixated" on the issue of territorial gains.
According to the "WSJ," the five Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea—are crucial in peace negotiations. Witkoff, who plays a central role in the negotiations, highlighted Putin's strong focus on Ukrainian territory. He acknowledged that while Russia could potentially gain control over certain areas, it is unlikely to secure them all.
Witkoff suggested that Ukraine might care less about regions where the Russian language is predominant.
Witkoff questioned whether the level of concern changes depending on the region's language, asking if areas like Russia and Ukraine—particularly those with a stronger Russian-speaking presence—are viewed as less important.
Decline in Russian language use
The "WSJ" notes that, as a result of the Russian invasion, the use of the Russian language has declined nationwide. Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky, for whom Russian was the first language, firmly deny that they would ever recognize the Russian annexation of the regions.
The newspaper recalls that Witkoff first raised the issue of the regions' future after talks with Putin in March, during an interview with pro-Russian commentator Tucker Carlson. At that time, he falsely claimed that Russia controlled all of them, confusing their number and names. He also suggested that Russian claims are justified, pointing to fictitious referenda organized by the occupying authorities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out the repetition of pro-Russian narratives by Witkoff, stating that it is not "helpful." CNN reports that Witkoff often echoes Russian talking points during private meetings at the White House, something that reportedly unsettles certain attendees. One official noted that his openness to these narratives is concerning and poses a genuine issue.
Half of important Ukrainian deposits are occupied
Ukraine is one of the most resource-rich countries in Europe. Twenty-two out of thirty key strategic resources for the EU can be found on its territory. This country:
- ranks first in Europe in terms of uranium deposits,
- has the largest lithium reserves in Europe,
- possesses significant deposits of titanium, nickel, copper, and cobalt,
- is a key supplier of rare earth metals.
However, about half of these deposits are located in regions under occupation or experiencing intense warfare—in the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Meanwhile, Russia faces a serious problem with depleting its own deposits, especially since most new ones are located in difficult-to-access areas of the Arctic and the Far East.
