Russian President Volodymyr Putin has no intention of returning the captured territories in Zaporizhia and Kherson regions to Ukraine.
This is reported by The Washington Post, citing a source familiar with the content of the meeting between Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian leader.
According to the source, Russia has offered Ukraine to give up Donbas, which includes Luhansk and Donetsk regions, in exchange for a ceasefire, but without other offers in return.
“The Kremlin does not want to return territories in Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, where Russian military gains have provided Moscow with a valuable land bridge to occupied Crimea“, points out the source.
The Washington Post's interlocutor claims that the American side has also perceived Putin's proposal to stop hostilities in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions as readiness to withdraw Russian troops from there. However, the Kremlin, according to him, is not ready to give up the captured territories.
We recall that US President Donald Trump, commenting on the peace agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, stated that there would be an exchange of territories.
It was earlier reported that the meeting of US President Putin will be held on August 15 in the US state of Alaska.