On maps: the territories of Ukraine invaded by Russia that are in the center of negotiations between Trump and Putin

Ukraine map superimposed with the colors of the national flag: Blue up and yellow down. On both sides, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, both in a suit and serious appearance are seen in black and white. — Photo foot, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet on Friday in Alaska.

- Author, Paul Adams
- Author's title, BBC News, diplomatic correspondent
1 hour

A lot has been speculated on whether the summit between Trump and Putin will lead to a forced and fundamental alteration of the Ukraine map.

Russia has claimed vast areas of Ukraine since 2014, when President Vladimir Putin took his first step.

At that time, in the space of a few months, Moscow carried out the relatively uncertain occupation and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

But this was followed by a separatist movement backed by Russia in the eastern region of Donbás, specifically in the two regions, or “Oblast”, known as Donetsk and Lugansk.

There a war was fought for eight years.

Ukraine map before the war, which shows Ukraine and Russia. The key areas highlighted are Crimea, which was totally annexed by Russia in 2014; Lugansk and Donetsk are marked; A large strip east of both regions, shaded in purple, represents areas under the control of separatists backed by Russia. The capital, Kyiv, is also marked and a box shows the location of Ukraine in Europe.

Ukraine lost around 14,000 soldiers and civilians during this period.

But in February 2022, Putin launched its large -scale invasion. Russian troops quickly reached Kyiv's outskirts and seized huge extensions of the south, including large parts of two other provinces, Zaporiyia and Jersón.

Map that shows Russian military control in Ukraine a month after the start of the war. The continuous red areas indicate full Russian control and extend up to 100 km from the Russian border in eastern Ukraine; The red diagonal lines show limited control and almost reach the capital, Kyiv; They show the regions of Zaporiyia and Jersón in the southeast. Source: ISW (March 2022)

The war has had ups and downs since then. Russia now controls a rather lower territory, going from about 27% in spring of 2022 to approximately 20% today. In the east, the Russian forces are advancing, but very slowly a great cost.

The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, affirms that the unconditional fire is now necessary. European allies also insist on the cessation of fighting. The president of the United States, Donald Trump, states that this is what he has been trying to get.

But on the eve of his summit in Alaska with Putin, Trump has begun to speak, however, of territorial exchanges. This has caused shock in Kyiv and Europe.

It is not clear to which territory Trump refers, nor how those exchanges would be, since the entire territory in question legally belongs to Ukraine.

As of August 2025, the territory of Ukraine is as follows:

Map that shows the front line in Ukraine as of August 12, 2025. The areas under Russian military control are shaded in pink, the limited control areas have red stripes and the areas under control awarded by Russia are shaded in yellow. This shows that Russia has lost control of almost all areas outside the four regions east of the country and Crimea. Marked key cities include Kyiv, Járkov, Zaporiyia and Jersón. Source: ISW

Russia would love to expand its control over all of Lugansk and Donetsk.

Some reports suggest that Putin is demanding from Ukraine to deliver the remaining territory that controls in both regions.

But that would mean that Kyiv would renounce places where tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have died trying to protect, cities such as Kramorsk and Slávyansk, and a fortified line that protects the Ukrainian territory to the North and west.

Map that highlights the Donbás zone in yellow. The cities of Slávyansk and Kramorsk, in Donetsk, are marked within the Ukrainian side area of the front line, which is marked in red. Source: ISW, August 12, 2025.

For Kyiv, such a concession would be a bitter drink. For Moscow, whose losses have been even more catastrophic, would represent a victory.

Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine “could not” leave Donbás, since Moscow would use the region as a springboard to attack the rest of the country.

In recent days, Russian forces seem to be pressing strongly and advancing near the city of Dobropilia. But it is not yet clear if this is a significant strategic movement or just an effort to demonstrate to Trump that Moscow has the advantage.

And what about Zaporiyia and Jersón captured in 2022?

As reported, Russia is offering to stop his offensive and leave the borders as they are.

Map that highlights the areas of Zaporiyia and Jersón in Amarillo. The front line between the Ukrainian and Russian forces is marked in red. The marked key locations include Kyiv, Mariupol, Crimea, the Black Sea and the Azov Sea. Source: ISW, August 12, 2025.

But would Russia be willing to return some of it?

On Monday, Trump vaguely talked about “properties in front of the sea”, presumably in reference to part of this coast, along the sea of Azov or the Black Sea.

But all this is part of the strategically vital land bridge of Putin that connects Russia with the Crimea occupied.

It is difficult to imagine that the Russian leader agrees to give up any of it. Like Donetsk and Lugansk, Putin considers these places as part of Russia and annexed them illegally three years ago in four referendums widely considered a farce.

For Ukraine and Europe, territorial exchanges, in this early phase of negotiations, are unfeasible.

It is possible that there is finally a debate on future borders, but only when the war has ended and the security of Ukraine has been guaranteed.