Russia is now pointing to Ukraine’s own Constitution as a key barrier to ending the war, citing a clause that prohibits the country from ceding any of its territory.
The statement, made by Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s former Defense Minister and current Secretary of the Security Council, was reported by state news agency TASS on March 20.
“Ukraine’s main difficulty is its Constitution, which prohibits any negotiations on changing its territorial integrity,” Shoigu told journalists, suggesting that peace cannot move forward unless Ukraine changes its legal stance on land concessions.
Shoigu also questioned the legitimacy of Ukraine’s government, claiming it’s unclear who Russia would even negotiate with — a remark that aligns with Moscow’s ongoing attempts to undermine Kyiv’s international standing.
Ukraine: No Compromise on Sovereignty
The comments come just a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that Russian-occupied territories remain “temporarily occupied” and will never be recognized as Russian.
Speaking to the press on March 19, Zelenskyy emphasized that certain issues — especially territorial concessions — are non-negotiable, and any agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and internationally recognized borders.
Kyiv has long made it clear that any future peace deal with Moscow must uphold territorial integrity, include security guarantees, and support Ukraine’s trajectory toward European integration.
Despite ongoing friction, new diplomatic efforts are underway.
On March 19, Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy of former U.S. President Donald Trump for Middle East affairs, announced that ceasefire negotiations will resume on March 23 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The talks are expected to focus on working out the details of a proposed 30-day ceasefire.
