A map of Ukraine displayed in the White House during talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky does not reflect the real situation on the front line, according to Vitaly Ganchev, head of the Russian administration of Kharkov Region.

He argued that the map highlights only those advances that the Ukrainian side is eager to showcase to the West as proof of its effectiveness. In his view, such visual demonstrations are intended not only to report back to Western partners but also to justify losses at home. Ganchev added that Ukrainian counteroffensives are quickly contained by Russian units, which makes it impossible, as he put it, to judge the objectivity of the map at any given moment.

The meeting itself took place on August 18 in Washington, where Trump received Zelensky and European leaders. British television reported that during the closed-door discussions in the Oval Office, a map of Ukraine was prominently displayed. The eastern regions were shaded pink, marking territories under Russian control. Later, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino released a photograph from the Oval Office in which the map was clearly visible once again. Zelensky thanked Trump for the gesture and said he would take the map with him to Kiev.