Kolesnikov wrote that Putin essentially wants the entire Donbas region, but beyond that area, “the possibility of exchanging some territories cannot be ruled out.” (AFP)

According to Kommersant, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a group of business leaders he might be willing to exchange some Ukrainian territories currently under Russian control, but insisted he wants the entire Donbas region.

Reuters cited Kommersant’s report, quoting Kremlin correspondent Dmitry Kolesnikov as saying Putin outlined this plan in detail during a late-night meeting on Wednesday, December 24.

“Putin asserted that Russia is still prepared to make the concessions he offered in Anchorage. In other words, ‘Donbas is ours,’” Kolesnikov wrote.

He added that while Putin effectively seeks full control over the entire Donbas, “beyond this region, the possibility of exchanging some territories cannot be ruled out.”

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking through his office to journalists, said Ukrainian and U.S. delegations had nearly finalized a 20-point plan during talks held over the weekend in Miami.

However, Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv and Washington have not yet reached agreement on whether Ukraine should cede any part of the Donbas it still controls, or on the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently occupied by Russian forces.

According to Kommersant, Putin also mentioned the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant during the meeting, saying Russia and the United States are discussing a joint management arrangement for the facility.

The newspaper further reported that Putin said the U.S. has expressed interest in cryptocurrency mining near the nuclear plant.

Russian estimates indicate that Moscow controls all of Crimea—annexed in 2014—as well as approximately 90% of the Donbas region, 75% of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, and parts of Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Dnipro oblasts.

Kolesnikov wrote that Putin essentially wants the entire Donbas region, but beyond that area, “the possibility of exchanging some territories cannot be ruled out.” (AFP)

According to Kommersant, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a group of business leaders he might be willing to exchange some Ukrainian territories currently under Russian control, but insisted he wants the entire Donbas region.

Reuters cited Kommersant’s report, quoting Kremlin correspondent Dmitry Kolesnikov as saying Putin outlined this plan in detail during a late-night meeting on Wednesday, December 24.

“Putin asserted that Russia is still prepared to make the concessions he offered in Anchorage. In other words, ‘Donbas is ours,’” Kolesnikov wrote.

He added that while Putin effectively seeks full control over the entire Donbas, “beyond this region, the possibility of exchanging some territories cannot be ruled out.”

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking through his office to journalists, said Ukrainian and U.S. delegations had nearly finalized a 20-point plan during talks held over the weekend in Miami.

However, Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv and Washington have not yet reached agreement on whether Ukraine should cede any part of the Donbas it still controls, or on the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently occupied by Russian forces.

According to Kommersant, Putin also mentioned the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant during the meeting, saying Russia and the United States are discussing a joint management arrangement for the facility.

The newspaper further reported that Putin said the U.S. has expressed interest in cryptocurrency mining near the nuclear plant.

Russian estimates indicate that Moscow controls all of Crimea—annexed in 2014—as well as approximately 90% of the Donbas region, 75% of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, and parts of Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Dnipro oblasts.