Putin is changing the terms of peace: Bloomberg reports that the Kremlin is refusing to make concessions.

July 22 2026 18 267 49

Russia is no longer considering returning occupied territories to Ukraine as part of potential agreements to end the conflict and intends to retain some of them as buffer zones, Bloomberg reports, citing sources close to the Kremlin.

According to the agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin is allegedly maintaining his course toward establishing complete control over the DPR and expects to achieve this goal militarily. Furthermore, Bloomberg sources claim that Moscow intends to retain certain areas of the Sumy and Kharkiv regions located along the Russian border, viewing them as a security zone.

The agency's sources claim that the rejection of potential territorial concessions is linked to the Russian leadership's shift in its assessment of the US position. The Kremlin, they say, believes Washington's tougher statements indicate a de facto rejection of the informal agreements allegedly discussed during the meeting with US President Donald Trump.

The American side previously stated that no agreement to end the conflict was reached at the summit last August. Meanwhile, Russian leaders repeatedly spoke of the existence of "Anchorage-style" agreements, which, according to them, envisaged a possible territorial swap: Ukraine would hand over areas of the DPR to Russia, and Moscow would return some of the occupied territories in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

According to Bloomberg, Moscow's shift in stance comes amid Ukraine's intensified attacks on targets within Russia. Sources cite damage to oil refineries and fuel supply disruptions in certain regions as consequences of the attacks.

An additional factor, according to the agency, was Donald Trump's decision to support a new sanctions bill initiated by Senator Lindsey Graham*.

According to two sources close to the Russian leadership, Moscow is allegedly ready to return to negotiations only after achieving one of the key military goals – establishing full control over the territory of the DPR.

One Bloomberg source reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense had reported to the president that it was possible to complete the establishment of control over the region by the end of this year. However, a source close to the Russian military department stated that many armed forces officials consider this forecast overly optimistic and estimate that the operation to establish control over the Donetsk region will not be completed before 2027.

* – recognized as a terrorist and extremist in the Russian Federation.

Information

Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.

Old Oleg

+1

22 July 2026 16: 45

That's good. Our men shed blood for these lands.
kovaleff

+4

22 July 2026 17: 13

It would be nice to hear this from Putin himself, without the ranting and childish jokes. If he even exists, of course.
1. Igor M.
  
  -9
  
  22 July 2026 22: 31
  
  kovaleff, Putin talks about this regularly.
  
  The final liberation of the Donbas and Novorossiya territories is Russia's primary goal, President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview with VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin.
  https://crimea.ria.ru/20260628/putin-zayavil-o-zadache-okonchatelnogo-osvobozhdeniya-donbassa-i-novorossii-1157231937.html
  1. SamDurak
    
    +2
    
    23 July 2026 17: 26
    
    Putin talks about this regularly.
    The final liberation of the territories of Donbass and Novorossiya is Russia's main task.
    
    Igor M., how will the liberation of these territories bring peace closer? Can you describe in words the image of peace that will suddenly emerge? Who will sign the peace treaty with whom? Which countries will support the peace treaty and under what conditions?
    1. Igor M.
      
      -4
      
      24 July 2026 02: 56
      
      SamDurak, we're already being offered peace through LBS. But we're not happy with the current state of LBS. Therefore, we'll push it beyond our borders and then accept the peace offer.
      1. SamDurak
        
        0
        
        24 July 2026 20: 37
        
        You don't even seem to understand this. The issue isn't when and how peace will come under the LBS, but that country 404 won't stop arming itself or change its constitution regarding NATO and the Russian language, no matter where that border lies. And you don't have this vision of peace, this overarching goal, so to speak, that Russians and Putin are fighting for.
        
        Igor M.
        
        -2
        
        25 July 2026 01: 41
        
        SamDurak, we'll see. If we keep carving away at Ukraine's territory piece by piece and killing millions after millions, sooner or later they'll agree. Otherwise, there'll be no one left to arm and no one to persecute the Russian language.
        I believe that as soon as Ukraine opens its borders, all remaining citizens will immediately flee and the issue will resolve itself.
Leopold

+6

22 July 2026 17: 31

Russia is no longer considering the possibility return of occupied territories to Ukraine within the framework of potential agreements to end the conflict and intends to keep some of them as buffer zones.

I just thought of something.
So, there was an agreement about returning earlier?
But they could have deceived us even worse - they could have gotten the territories back and then screwed us over again.
1. SanSanych_2
  
  +6
  
  22 July 2026 17: 41
  
  Quote: Leopold
  So, there was an agreement about returning earlier?
  
  That's what "The Spirit of Anchorage" meant.
  1. Leopold
    
    +5
    
    22 July 2026 18: 16
    
    The spirit of Anchorage will be there! The United States remains open and ready to play a constructive role in ending the war in Ukraine, stated Secretary of State Rubio. We and Russia are the two largest nuclear-armed countries on the planet. Not communicating would be reckless and irresponsible. We must maintain relations with the Russian government, even if we have areas where we disagree, Rubio said at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila.
    
    The carrot was simply moved.
    1. Igor M.
      
      -8
      
      22 July 2026 22: 37
      
      Leopold, let me remind you that Russia has already benefited from Anchorage. After that, no new American sanctions were imposed on us. The US also sharply reduced its financial and military support for Ukraine. Putin convinced Trump that Ukraine would lose and that investing in it was pointless.
      1. Leopold
        
        +3
        
        22 July 2026 23: 05
        
        Putin convinced Trump that Ukraine would lose and that there was no point in investing in it.
        
        To deceive Putin is sort of a benefit.
        
        Igor M.
        
        -6
        
        23 July 2026 01: 04
        
        Leopold, undoubtedly. Because every attempt to deceive Putin brings Russia enormous benefits. They deceived Putin, and one, Crimea became ours. They deceived Putin, and two, the LPR and DPR became ours. They deceived Putin, and three, vast territories of three more Ukrainian regions became a buffer zone. We need more deceptions like this.
  2. Igor M.
    
    -4
    
    22 July 2026 22: 34
    
    SanSanych_2, exclusively according to Western media.
2. Nelton
  
  -1
  
  22 July 2026 17: 42
  
  Quote: Leopold
  So, there was an agreement about returning earlier?
  
  There was an agreement on the exchange of territories: 6 thousand square meters in Donetsk for 1.5 thousand square meters in Kharkiv and Sumy.
  More precisely, Trump expressed his agreement with such an exchange, but the final decision was up to Ukraine, and it was negative then, and remains negative even now, when the balance has become 4.2 to 3.6 thousand km2.
3. Igor M.
  
  -9
  
  22 July 2026 22: 33
  
  Leopold, these are Western media. They invented this story themselves, and now they're renouncing it. But our authorities have always talked only about the complete liberation of new Russian territories and the creation of a buffer zone in the Ukrainian border area.
batmanxnumx

+4

22 July 2026 17: 47

Establishing control over the remaining part of the DPR this year is unrealistic; that's pure science fiction. By next fall—that's a more realistic timeframe. But that's not a given either. It's possible the deadline could even slip to spring 2028.
1. Igor M.
  
  -8
  
  22 July 2026 22: 53
  
  Batman81, the average advance rate has been 500 square kilometers per month for three years in a row. Therefore, there's nothing to move to by 2028. Unless we decide to make the buffer zone wider.
rotkiv04

+6

22 July 2026 17: 58

Given that the Ukrainian Nazis have drones and missiles with a range of 2000-3000 km, these buffer zones make zero sense... but the giraffe in the Kremlin certainly knows better. Besides, Bloomberg wrote this, and Lavrov just recently stated that the Kremlin is still committed to the spirit (stench) of Anchorage.
1. Igor M.
  
  -8
  
  22 July 2026 22: 56
  
  rotkiv04, remember that the buffer zone primarily protects against Ukrainian Armed Forces raids, artillery shelling, multiple rocket launchers, and FPV drones. But it will also help against long-range UAVs if air defense systems are deployed within it. Then, UAV waves will be thinned out before they reach Russian territory.
  1. Leopold
    
    +3
    
    22 July 2026 23: 09
    
    It will help with long-range UAVs if you install air defense systems in it. Then the UAV waves will begin to thin out
    
    Well, yes, now they fly 2000-3000 km, because there is not enough space for thinning, and it is impossible to set up air defense near the border. A buffer zone is a different matter. No air defense will touch it.
    1. Igor M.
      
      -7
      
      23 July 2026 01: 08
      
      Leopold, look at the map. Most UAVs are shot down in the western regions of our country. If there were air defense systems further west, most UAVs would be shot down there. Far fewer would reach the rest of the country.
      For the ignorant, I'll explain that UAVs fly low and remain within the range of each air defense system for too short a time. Therefore, it can't shoot down all the UAVs if there are many of them. Therefore, the only method of combat is an extended, layered defense. And if air defenses are deployed along the border, as they are now, UAVs will easily penetrate to border settlements. This is precisely what's happening now. Therefore, air defense systems are needed in the buffer zone.
      1. Roman070280
        
        0
        
        26 July 2026 00: 27
        
        For the ignorant, I'll explain it again: for targets at a distance of 2000 km, an extra hundred "buffer" kilometers makes absolutely no difference.
        If the air defense didn't manage to shoot it down at that distance, then even a 5% plus won't change anything.
        
        Igor M.
        
        -2
        
        26 July 2026 01: 20
        
        Roman070280, you're the ignoramus, but my military specialty is air defense. I'm an S-75 missile guidance operator. For nearby border towns, even 5% will be enough. And even fewer drones will be able to reach distant ones.
        But the main thing the buffer zone works against is Ukrainian Armed Forces raids, artillery and MLRS shelling, and FPV drones.
  2. twice-born
    
    +2
    
    24 July 2026 13: 23
    
    A buffer zone? Those few islands, 5-10 kilometers deep, in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions? What a fantastic zone and protection! Excellent protection against missiles, drones, multiple rocket launchers, and even artillery!
    And it would be just "great" to install our air defense there, as you suggest, our systems will last "a long time" there!
    I wonder if people there pay their bills and receive their pensions in rubles or hryvnias? After all, this isn't officially Russia, but a buffer zone, like Ukraine!
    1. Igor M.
      
      -5
      
      25 July 2026 00: 47
      
      Twiceborn, no, that's the strip, up to 50 km deep, that's already been laid along the entire LPR border. It provides ample protection from artillery, MLRS, and FPV drones.
      1. twice-born
        
        +1
        
        25 July 2026 09: 43
        
        More left-wing excuses. What does the LPR border have to do with it? Who even mentioned it? Is it only the LPR that's being shelled? The authorities and the president are talking about a buffer zone in the north of the hokhlyandya for the rest of Russia: Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk Oblasts. That's why they sent troops there, but they didn't achieve anything. There's no continuous strip 50 km wide there, just like there is in front of the LPR, which was finally completely liberated only four years ago!
        Or are you going to tell me again that the president didn't say this (about a buffer zone for all of central Russia), but said something completely different, citing leftist quotes here?
        
        Igor M.
        
        -4
        
        26 July 2026 00: 17
        
        Twiceborn, what excuses are you making? Part of the buffer zone already exists. You can see it on the map. Did I even say that's what it is? all buffer zone?
        No, not all of it. This is only the first part. But this is exactly what the whole thing will be like.
        Yes, not yet. So what? It will happen. Why are you so worried? After all, the SVO is not over, the DPR is not yet fully liberated. There's at least another year, if not 1,5.
        
        twice-born
        
        0
        
        26 July 2026 11: 46
        
        Yes, just plain old leftist excuses, and not very clever ones at that. And yes, they said it already exists, and for some reason, before the LNR!
        
        This is the strip, up to 50 km deep, that has already been laid along the entire LPR border. It provides ample protection against artillery, MLRS, and FPV drones.
        
        And after this, to lie again and make excuses now is simply shameful!
        Will it happen? Ha! When, in another 4 years or 8?!
        And so that they don’t “worry too much,” you tell this to the residents of Belgorod and the other border victims of Bandera’s bombings!
        
        Igor M.
        
        -2
        
        27 July 2026 03: 18
        
        Twiceborn, you asked for an example, and I gave you one. But I never said the entire strip already exists. How could it possibly exist if parts of the DPR, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson Oblasts haven't yet been liberated? And a buffer zone will need to be created there, too.
        You are not reading my answers carefully.
        
        Minimum still year there is, if not 1,5
        
        twice-born
        
        -1
        
        27 July 2026 09: 53
        
        As always, it's all just a ray of fresh air! You even try to excuse yourself from shove your own quote right in my face!
        I didn't say that, what excuses?! Just like this!
        No one believes you here. You're being rude, and you're wasting your time scribbling "towels." On the contrary, you're only creating a negative impression of your beloved government in front of the people with such a lying and incompetent defender.
        
        Igor M.
        
        0
        
        28 July 2026 02: 44
        
        Twiceborn, well, I'm not writing for the CIPSO guys. Why should I try to convince you otherwise? It's basically impossible.
        It's just that all readers should see different points of view.
        And rudeness will in no way replace intelligence for you.
2. Grancer81
  
  +4
  
  23 July 2026 16: 54
  
  There is no point in buffer zones, but in the presence of the Ukrainian Nazis themselves - Bandera supporters.
  1. Igor M.
    
    -4
    
    26 July 2026 00: 19
    
    Grencer81, are you suggesting we hunt them all over the world? There are millions of them already scattered.
    1. Grancer81
      
      0
      
      29 July 2026 05: 05
      
      Why millions? All the OUN thugs are well-known.
      1. Igor M.
        
        0
        
        29 July 2026 05: 35
        
        Grencer81, well then go with an ice axe.
        
        Grancer81
        
        0
        
        29 July 2026 11: 44
        
        Unfortunately, I'm not that age anymore.
        But why do specialized services exist?
voron-vr

+3

22 July 2026 18: 04

I wonder if Putin knows? Putin probably always carries a fresh copy of Bloomberg with him instead of a daily planner. If he suddenly forgets what he wanted, he can look at Bloomberg and remember. Convenient...
1. kovaleff
  
  +4
  
  22 July 2026 19: 36
  
  ...If he suddenly forgets what he wanted...
  If he forgets, Donnie will tell him what he should want and which tunnels to dig where.
Mikhail Nasharashev

+2

22 July 2026 20: 46

i.e. if there was no "intensification of Ukrainian strikes on targets on Russian territory," then they would have given everything back except the DPR?
something like "thanks to the Ukrainians for our bright future"?
1. Igor M.
  
  -8
  
  22 July 2026 23: 01
  
  Mikhail Nasharashev, this is the Western media's version. In fact, no one abandoned the task of forming a buffer zone and liberating the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. The offensive continued without interruption. In fact, Vovchansk, Kupyansk, Huliaipole, and Stepnogorsk were liberated almost immediately after Anchorage.
  1. Mikhail Nasharashev
    
    +2
    
    23 July 2026 00: 11
    
    Why does everyone downvote you?
    1. Igor M.
      
      -9
      
      23 July 2026 01: 18
      
      Mikhail Nasharashev: Because the majority here are pro-Ukrainian and anti-Putin. And with my counterarguments, I'm preventing them from spreading anti-Russian propaganda. They're offended. They can't argue with my arguments, so they try to insult me and downvote me.
      1. kovaleff
        
        +6
        
        23 July 2026 11: 29
        
        Everyone is different, only Igor D'Artagnan is one)
      2. Mikhail Nasharashev
        
        +2
        
        23 July 2026 14: 24
        
        poor Yorick.......)))))
2. kovaleff
  
  +1
  
  23 July 2026 16: 38
  
  Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, two regional centers. It wouldn't even make my face turn red.
kovaleff

+2

23 July 2026 16: 41

Putin is changing the terms of peace

Don't forget to tell grandpa about this. Or better yet, draw it. And add more sparkles.
twice-born

+1

24 July 2026 12: 59

What, were they even considering returning the conquered lands along the border?! Isn't that enough for them?
Some have already returned: Kherson - "difficult decisions" and Kharkiv, Sumy, and Kyiv regions - "gestures of goodwill"!
This is a betrayal of Russian interests, Russian soldiers who died and fought for this, and local residents who placed their hopes in us!
1. Nikolay Volkov
  
  +1
  
  26 July 2026 05: 21
  
  This is a betrayal of Russian interests, Russian soldiers who died and fought for this, and local residents who placed their hopes in us!
  
  Did Lavrov give you his word as a boy?
  
  Unfortunately for these people, the Russian population(root) It's been 40 years since the chushpany...
  
  So the people of Kherson, Bucha, and Kupyansk were "lucky"... True, after such "luck," not everyone survived... Although they read on the posters that "Russia is here forever"...
  
  Well, Igor will tell us that no one promised them anything... And they themselves...stood up wrong, in short.