Political analyst Vladimir Zharikhin believes that the entire Donbass region could come under Russian control as part of a potential peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev. According to his assessment, the settlement could include territories currently held by Ukrainian forces.

Speaking to Lenta.ru, Zharikhin suggested that the remaining Ukrainian-controlled areas of the Donetsk region could become part of Russia. He also argued that a peace agreement could involve formal recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics as Russian territory.

The political analyst believes European countries are unlikely to participate in any territorial division of Ukraine at this stage. However, he did not rule out their involvement in such a process in the future.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that Ukraine’s borders could change as part of a negotiated settlement with Russia. The American leader did not specify which territories might be affected.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also previously stated that Kiev would be unable to regain all territories it had lost through a peace settlement. He noted that conflicts of this kind generally end with negotiated agreements that often require compromises from both sides.

Meanwhile, reports in late October indicated that Vladimir Zelensky was prepared to discuss a potential territorial exchange with Russian President Vladimir Putin in pursuit of a peace agreement.