Moscow won’t withdraw, but occupied regions remain legally Ukrainian, Kellogg says

He made this remark during an interview with Fox News.

According to Kellogg, Russia has complete control over the Luhansk region but only partial control over Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

"So the question is now, what does this look like? What do the territorial gains look like?" the diplomat said.

He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between de facto and de jure control in any potential resolution of the war.

Kellogg noted that while Russia maintains a physical presence in the occupied territories and has no intention of withdrawing, these regions remain legally part of Ukraine.

“De facto meaning, okay, you physically occupy the territory, they're not going to move off it. But you don't go to de jure and say, you've totally annexed it, we give it to you as a part of Russia. Those are the discussions that are going to have to take place," he added.

• During negotiations with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia, the Russian delegation is pushing for control over four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.