Russia demands control of four Ukrainian regions

Russia is demanding control over four regions in Ukraine: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. This comes during talks in Saudi Arabia with the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed these areas since announcing their annexation in September 2022, despite international disapproval. Currently, Russia does not fully control these regions. It is said that Moscow hopes the U.S. will pressure Ukraine to concede them. However, it is unclear how much influence the U.S. has on Ukraine's decisions. Independent reports suggest that discussions surrounding these regions have caused concern about potential pressure on Ukraine. Since 2014, parts of Donetsk and Luhansk have been under control of pro-Russian separatists. The Russian military invaded Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in 2022. Reports from February 2025 indicate that Russian forces control around 98% of Luhansk and about two-thirds of the others. Analysts believe losing these regions could pose a significant political risk for Putin. Some sources claim Russia might try to gain territory in other Ukrainian regions to use as bargaining chips. Meanwhile, a U.S. envoy has faced backlash for referring to referendums in these regions to suggest they want Russian control, which Ukraine and others have condemned as illegitimate. In recent comments, the U.S. government mentioned agreements on safe passage for commercial shipping in the Black Sea and efforts to halt military strikes. However, the situation regarding the contested regions is expected to remain unresolved for now.