Ukrainian language is being restored despite «linguicide» under occupation — Kremin responds to Witkoff

Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language Taras Kremin. Archive photo: NikVesti

Taras Kremin, the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, has rejected statements by US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff that Russia could retain control over five regions of Ukraine because of their Russian-speaking population.

He said this on the air of «Radio Liberty».

«I want to warn that talk about language, especially from our allies, does not comply with our international obligations or the treaties we actually have», Taras Kremin said.

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He also recalled that Donald Trump, after the start of his second presidential term on 1 March, signed a decree granting English the status of the only official language.

«Who better than him (Trump) to know how important it is to preserve the national unity and unity of the state, even if it has developed in different ways and in some aspects is quite related. Like, for example, my hometown of Mykolaiv. But I want to emphasise that what Russian propaganda insists on is absolutely unacceptable neither for ordinary US citizens nor for the civilised world», added Taras Kremin.

He also noted that the language situation in Ukraine has changed dramatically due to the war, and Russia continues its policy of Russification in the occupied territories.

«Over the 11 years of war, the language picture in Ukraine has been significantly restored. Today, the overwhelming majority of citizens, regardless of the region — whether it is the south, east or west of Ukraine — prefer Ukrainian in both official and private communication. At the same time, since 2014, we have been recording numerous cases of linguicide, humiliation of people and destruction of national identity. And this continues in the temporarily occupied territories», said Taras Kremin.

We remind you that since the beginning of 2025, the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language has received 646 appeals regarding violations of language legislation, most of which are from Kyiv, Odesa and Kharkiv regions.