Russia's annexed Ukrainian territories take center stage in the Trump-Putin meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that Ukraine will not give its land to the occupier, as he stated on social media. This statement comes amidst speculation that the future of Ukraine may be decided without the involvement of its citizens in the upcoming Trump-Putin summit.
The territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia centers mainly on areas in eastern and southern Ukraine that Russia controls or claims, totaling about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Key contested regions include the Donbas area, which comprises Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, where some of the most intense fighting has occurred. Additionally, Russia has advanced in parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and maintains military positions near Zaporizhzhia City, as well as attacks occurring in and near Kursk Oblast in Russia itself.
Discussions about potential land swaps have been reported in the context of peace negotiations. Former U.S. President Trump mentioned that any ceasefire agreement might involve "some land swapping." However, the specifics of what this would entail remain unclear, and Ukraine's constitution forbids ceding or trading its territory. One area that Russian President Putin is believed to want Ukraine to relinquish is the eastern Donbas region as a condition for peace, but no formal agreements have been made public.
In a few months after the invasion, Moscow proxies organised an annexation "referendum" in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, which the West described as a "sham". As of August 2025, neither Ukraine nor the international community has recognised the annexation of these four regions.
According to a recent opinion poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 82 percent of Ukrainians reject the demands made by Russia to cede land. If Ukraine were to cede these regions to Moscow, it would have full access to Crimea and control of the Sea of Azov, which has been under de facto Russian control since 2014. However, it couldn't be determined which territory Ukraine would receive in return.
The Donbas war claimed more than 14,000 lives on both sides, according to the UN. The war started in February 2022, following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2014, Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine is ready to negotiate "on territorial issues," but legal recognition of Russian occupations "would not be up for debate." Despite the ongoing conflict and the power imbalance on the ground, there is speculation that the meeting between Putin and Trump may result in a radical change to Ukraine's borders.
However, Zelensky has ruled out any withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the eastern regions as part of a peace deal. This stance, along with the strong opposition from Ukraine's European allies, suggests that any land swap agreements may face significant obstacles.
References: 1. Ukraine conflict 2. Timeline of the Crimean crisis
- The general news and politics scene is abuzz with speculation about potential land swaps in the war-and-conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, with key contested regions including the Donbas area and Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
- In a recent opinion poll, 82 percent of Ukrainians reject the demands made by Russia to cede land, particularly the eastern Donbas region, which has been a point of contention in peace negotiations.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in addressing the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian conflict, has stated that Ukraine is willing to negotiate on territorial issues, but legal recognition of Russian occupations is not up for debate, hinting at potential obstacles in any land swap agreements.
