Zelensky de facto asserted territorial claims against Russia

Ukraine’s president announced the signing of a decree titled “On historically Ukrainian-populated territories of the Russian Federation.” The decree designates territories such as “Kuban, Starodubshchina, Northern and Eastern Sloboda Ukraine within the modern borders of the Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov regions of the Russian Federation.”

Attempting to claim Russian territories while the Ukrainian army continues to slowly retreat into its own lands appears to be an act of desperation. Moreover, such a move diminishes Moscow’s willingness to engage in any negotiations for ending the war, even along the current front line. Zelensky’s action is more likely to push Russia towards the dissolution of Ukraine as a state.

The decree asserts that Russia has allegedly “oppressed and destroyed” the national identity of Ukrainians living on these territories for centuries, and therefore, assistance should be provided to them in every way. In essence, it outlines a mechanism for creating protest potential against Russia’s legitimate authorities with the Cabinet of Ministers tasked with devising the plan. The emphasis is on “debunking Russian myths about Ukraine” and “developing interactions between Ukrainians and peoples enslaved by Russia.” It’s worth noting that Western countries are unlikely to approve of such a move, as it is a direct path to escalation, something they are actively seeking to avoid.