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No talks if Russia proceeds with referendum in captured areas: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky

Russian forces and allies hold control over large territories in Easter Ukraine's Donbas region and southern Ukraine.

TN World Desk

Updated Aug 8, 2022, 11:00 IST

UKrinian President Volodymyr Zelensky (File image)

Photo : AP

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday stated that if Russia proceeded with 'referendums' in the occupied areas of the country over joining Russia, there could be no talks between the countries. Zelensky reiterated that they will 'not give up anything that is theirs.'

Notably, Russian forces and allies hold control over large territories in Easter Ukraine's Donbas region and southern Ukraine. Zelensky, in a video address, said that Ukraine is standing firm on its position of 'yielding no territory to Russia.'

"Our country's position remains what it always has been. We will give up nothing of what is ours. If the occupiers proceed along the path of pseudo-referendums they will close for themselves any chance of talks with Ukraine and the free world, which the Russian side will clearly need at some point," Zelensky said.

It is important to note here that several rounds of talks have taken place between the countries since March but no progress was made.

The governor of the Luhansk region, which has been in Russian control for several weeks, hinted over the weekend that Russia was preparing for a new referendum in captured areas and was even offering benefits to residents for taking part.

Ukraine on Sunday also noted that the Russian shelling destroyed three radiation sensors and injured a worker at the Zaporizhzhia power plant, which is the largest of Ukraine's four nuclear power plants, and provides about half the country's electricity.

Zelensky called Russia's shelling 'Russian nuclear terror' and said that 'there is no such nation in the world that could feel safe when a terrorist state fires at a nuclear plant.'

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