There will be no ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, and the regions currently occupied by Russian forces in Sumy and Kharkiv will not be returned to Ukraine.
Russia is no longer planning to return any occupied territories to Ukraine under a ceasefire arrangement; these areas will instead be retained as buffer zones. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, this information comes from three individuals closely connected with the Kremlin.
The sources indicate that the Russian government is determined to achieve full control over Donetsk Oblast. At the same time, Russia has decided to maintain control over border areas of Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts, designating them as buffer zones between Russia and Ukraine.
In light of frequent Ukrainian attacks on Russian rear territories, including Moscow, Russia's stance has hardened. Additionally, the Russian government believes that the United States’ tough rhetoric has undermined the informal agreement previously reached between both sides during the Anchorage summit under Trump. As a result, Russia has abandoned any idea of territorial concessions.
According to open-source data, the total area of Kharkiv Oblast is 31,415 km², and that of Sumy Oblast is 23,834 km².
Russian forces currently have stable control over approximately 2,066 square kilometers in Kharkiv Oblast, accounting for about 6.6% of the entire region. Key areas include the entire Volochysk district and surrounding areas, an eastern salient along the Kupiansk border, and several villages along the northern border of Kharkiv City. In Sumy Oblast, Russian forces control roughly 430 square kilometers—about 2.7% of the total area—concentrated entirely in the northern part near the borders with Kursk and Bryansk Oblasts (including clusters of settlements such as Batsivske).
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871468862266444/
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