Russia Continues Referendum In Occupied Territories, President Zelensky: They Close The Talks, Ukraine Will Not Give Up What's Owned

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated on Sunday that if Russia goes ahead with a referendum in his country's occupied territories to join Russia, there will be no talks with Ukraine or its international allies.

Russian troops and allied separatists now control large swathes of territory in eastern Ukraine's Donbas and in the south, after launching what the Kremlin calls a special military operation into its neighbours. It is known that officials in both regions have raised the possibility of holding a referendum.

In his evening video address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was sticking to his position, not to give territory to Russia.

"The position of our country remains as it was. We will not give up anything from what is ours," President Zelensky said.

"If the occupiers continue on the path of pseudo-referendums, they will close themselves off any opportunity for talks with Ukraine and the free world, which the Russian side will obviously need at some point," he said.

It is known that Russian and Ukrainian officials held several sessions of talks immediately after Russian troops launched their invasion of Ukraine in February.

However, little progress has been made and no meetings have been held since late March, with each side blaming the other for the cessation of contact.

Russian troops control most of the Kherson region in southern Ukraine. While the official in charge has suggested a referendum on joining Russia, it could be held in the coming weeks or months.

In Donbas, Russian proxies seized part of the territory in 2014, holding a referendum on independence and proclaiming "people's republics" in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The Kremlin recognized the republic on the eve of the February invasion.

Meanwhile, the governor of the Lughansk region, almost entirely under Russian control for several weeks, suggested over the weekend that Russia was preparing for a new referendum in the newly captured area, offering benefits for residents to take part.