Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan revealed that Russia no longer insists on controlling all four annexed Ukrainian regions. Instead, Moscow is now seeking to hold the current front line in Zaporizhzhia and retain 25–30% of Donetsk. Fidan also confirmed that strategic… pic.twitter.com/cfykYea2ll
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) August 29, 2025
“Now they have given up on that demand and are staying on the contact lines, except for one region,” said Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, referring to Russia’s shift away from insisting on full annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. He added: “There is currently a preliminary (agreement) regarding the return of 25–30 percent of Donetsk and maintaining the contact line in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson” https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/turkey-says-russia-scales-back-090234526.html.
The shift follows a summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska, a meeting that’s already being framed as a turning point. But the framing is off. This isn’t a concession. It’s a tactical pause. Espreso reports that “Russia no longer insists on controlling the entire territory of the four Ukrainian regions. However, it now seeks to hold the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region and secure 25–30% of Donetsk region for itself” https://global.espreso.tv/russia-ukraine-war-moscow-now-seeks-only-parts-of-donetsk-and-zaporizhzhia-turkeys-foreign-ministry