Russia no longer plans to return parts of Ukraine’s occupied territory as part of any future peace agreement and instead intends to keep them as permanent buffer zones, according to people familiar with the Kremlin’s thinking.
President Vladimir Putin remains determined to seize all of Ukraine’s Donetsk region by force while retaining occupied areas in the border regions of Sumy and Kharkiv, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing three sources close to the Kremlin.
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The reported shift marks a tougher stance from Moscow, which had previously been linked to informal proposals under which Russia would return occupied parts of Sumy and Kharkiv in exchange for Ukraine ceding the remainder of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Kremlin says “Anchorage spirit” is dead
According to Bloomberg’s sources, Putin abandoned the idea of territorial concessions after concluding that unofficial understandings reached with US President Donald Trump during their summit in Anchorage, Alaska, last August had effectively collapsed.
While Washington has repeatedly denied any peace deal emerged from the meeting, Kremlin officials have claimed the summit produced a framework – dubbed the “spirit of Anchorage” – that envisioned Ukraine giving up territory in Donbas in return for Russia withdrawing from parts of Sumy and Kharkiv.
The Kremlin reportedly now considers that option off the table.
Moscow hardens position
Bloomberg’s sources said Moscow’s position has hardened amid intensified Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia, including attacks on Moscow and oil infrastructure, as well as growing US pressure.
Russian Strike on Kharkiv Suburbs Kills Three, Injures 20
Trump recently endorsed new legislation imposing tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, significantly increasing economic pressure on the Kremlin.
Donetsk remains Putin’s priority
The report says Putin will only return to serious peace negotiations after Russian forces capture the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
One source told Bloomberg that Russia’s defense ministry has assured Putin the objective can be achieved by the end of 2026. Another source said many military officials consider that timeline unrealistic and believe full control of Donbas is unlikely before 2027.
Heavy fighting continues around Kostiantynivka, a key logistics hub whose capture would open the way toward Ukraine’s remaining strongholds in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Ukraine has consistently rejected demands to surrender territory and continues to insist that any settlement must respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Kyiv has instead proposed freezing the fighting along the current front line as a basis for negotiations.
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