Russia Demands Ukraine Recognize “Sputnik V” to Open Checkpoints in ORDLO, Yet Continues to Deny Its Presence in Donbas

Meanwhile, Chechnya’s head Ramzan Kadyrov said he has the power to “annex Ukraine.”

In the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) talks, Russia is demanding that Ukraine recognize the purported COVID-19 vaccine “Sputnik V” in exchange for reopening entry-exit checkpoints in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to deny its presence in Donbas, again stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not intend to discuss the situation in ORDLO with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

For its part, the controversial head of the Chechen Republic in Russia, Ramzan Kadyrov, stated that he could forcibly annex Ukraine.

Recognition of “Sputnik V”

Representative of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG Alexei Arestovych stated that Russia is demanding that Ukraine recognize the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in order to open checkpoints in Donbas.

Speaking on the “Dom” TV channel, he noted that from the Ukrainian side, the checkpoints have been open since November 10, 2020.

Alexei Arestovych
representative of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG

Our checkpoints have been open for more than a year. They open daily at 8 a.m. All that remains is to let citizens through from the other side. But they have also latched onto the need to recognize the “Sputnik V” vaccine in documents, and to recognize documents with the seals of the so-called “DNR” and “LNR.” In short, to do everything we will never agree to.

He emphasized that negotiations on opening checkpoints in Donbas within the TCG are reduced to “the subjectification of the so-called ‘LNR’ and ‘DNR.’

Alexei Arestovych
representative of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG

Their task is to push Russia outside the conflict, pretending that Russia is a mediator and that we have an internal civil conflict. Of course, we will not agree to that. Because the basis of a peaceful settlement is Russia’s recognition of its status as a party to the conflict, which the entire civilized world recognizes, except for Russia itself.

Reluctance to Negotiate on Donbas

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to discuss the war in Donbas with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, but is ready to talk about “bilateral relations” between the countries.

There, they refuse to recognize Russia as a party to the conflict in the war in Donbas and say that “the settlement is not a question for Putin.”

“You know that Zelensky wants to talk with Putin as a party to the conflict... The question of settlement is not a question for Putin. Putin says that if you want to communicate, let’s talk about bilateral relations,” said Peskov.

“Annexation” of Ukraine

Chechnya’s head Ramzan Kadyrov stated that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues his “anti-Russian policy,” then “Ukraine needs to be annexed to Russia.”

Ramzan Kadyrov
head of Chechnya

I firmly believe that if Zelensky and his team continue to behave this way, Ukraine must be annexed to our country. Ukrainians are our people, and this is our territory. That is my opinion.

Kadyrov also said he is ready to solve the Ukrainian problem himself.

Ramzan Kadyrov
head of Chechnya

If I were tasked with it, I would have resolved this issue long ago. Either I would have annexed the Chechen Republic to Ukraine, or I would have taken it long ago. I would have resolved the issue there.