Trump envoy: Russia can take some regions of Ukraine, but not a fifth

Negotiations between the US and Russia over the war in Ukraine are currently focused on five regions of Ukraine that Moscow claims as its own, but that Kiev has no intention of giving up.

President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the regions are crucial to resolving the war and are becoming a focal point of any deal he is trying to negotiate with the Kremlin on Trump's behalf.

But their status could pose a serious obstacle to any agreement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson as part of Russia.

It is reported that all of these territories are located in Ukraine and are at least partially occupied by Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine will never recognize these territories as Russian.

If the Trump administration were to pressure him to back down, Zelensky would face a difficult choice: risk losing American support if he refuses, or the trust of Ukrainians if he agrees.

Both options would suit Putin, writes The Wall Street Journal.

An overview map of the situation across Ukraine as of 09 April 2025 pic.twitter.com/ggxaLb47qA

— War Mapper (@War_Mapper) April 10, 2025

What did Witkoff say?

Witkoff first mentioned these regions in an interview with Tucker Carlson in March, although he misstated their number at the time and couldn't remember most of the names.

He wrongly claimed that Russia had taken “de facto” full control of the regions and repeated Putin’s claims with which he is trying to justify the invasion – that it is mainly Russian-speaking areas that allegedly chose to join Russia.

It is known that the international community rejected those referendums as illegal and manipulated.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Witkoff said Putin focused on Ukraine's regions during their talks.

He added that it is possible for Russia to take some of those regions, but not all.

Witkoff suggested that Ukraine might care less about some regions if they are majority Russian-speaking.

"When you look at those five regions, they are important to you. But are they less important to you if they are Russian-speaking?" he said.

Otherwise, Zelensky has repeatedly stated that he will never recognize Russian rule over any part of Ukrainian territory, a position supported by the vast majority of Ukrainians.

Witkoff said on Tuesday, three days after meeting with Putin, that the Russian head of state wants "permanent peace" in Ukraine.

"We could be on the verge of achieving something very, very important for the whole world," Steve Witkoff said in an interview with Fox News.

Donald Trump has stated that his goal is to end the war in Ukraine. His administration is holding separate talks with senior Russian and Ukrainian officials, who have so far failed to agree on a cessation of hostilities. /Telegraph/