Russia seeks full management of occupied Ukrainian areas in talks with US, media studies

Russia is pushing to realize full management over 4 occupied Ukrainian oblasts—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—throughout negotiations with the USA in Saudi Arabia, the Moscow Occasions reported, citing sources aware of the Kremlin’s technique.

Though Russian forces don’t totally management any of those areas, the Kremlin calls for them of their administrative borders, as outlined within the Russian Structure following their unlawful annexation.

A Kremlin-linked official instructed the Moscow Occasions that Russia's President Vladimir Putin can’t afford to lose these territories politically, and Russia intends to solidify its grip on them at any price.

"The Structure has no mechanism for areas to depart Russia. We’d like all of Zaporizhzhia and all of Kherson," the official reportedly mentioned.

The Kyiv Unbiased can't instantly confirm these claims.

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One other Russian authorities supply advised that Moscow hopes Washington would possibly strain Kyiv to withdraw solely from the occupied areas. "Both Trump convinces them to depart, or we’re instructed to enter extended negotiations whereas concurrently utilizing army pressure to safe management. That will be the worst state of affairs for us since river crossings are at all times pricey operations," the supply added.

In its place, Russia could try and seize further Ukrainian territory, resembling elements of Dnipropetrovsk or Sumy oblasts, after which supply an trade for Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, one other Russian official speculated. "We hope to discover a manner that avoids storming Kherson or forcing a crossing of the Dnipro River. That will imply hundreds of casualties for us," he admitted.

As of late 2024, Russian forces managed about 98.5% of Luhansk Oblast and 60% of the Donetsk area.

Regardless of these challenges, Russian diplomats imagine {that a} potential Trump administration could also be detached to the precise borders of a future settlement.

"From what I perceive, Trump desires a contemporary, well-armed, pro-Western Ukraine," a Russian diplomat instructed the outlet. "He can’t simply hand over Ukraine solely. However the place precisely the border is drawn—that won’t matter a lot to him."

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