Uncertainty Surrounding Ukraine’s Territorial Recovery

Former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes expressed skepticism on Wednesday regarding Ukraine’s ability to reclaim all territories occupied by Russia, particularly in the context of ongoing peace negotiations facilitated by President Trump.

Rhodes, who advised former President Obama, shared his insights during an appearance on MSNBC’s Chris Jansing Report. He remarked, “One of the challenges Ukrainians face is a lack of hope and assurance that they have sustained support from the US and concrete plans from their allies for long-term aid.”

He further acknowledged the significant difficulty Ukraine would face in regaining territories like Crimea, stating, “Realistically, it’s quite unlikely they will fully restore all occupied lands.”

As President Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, he has already suggested that “land exchanges” might be necessary to bring an end to the conflict.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have taken control of various areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions within eastern Donbas. Early in the conflict, Russia unlawfully annexed the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that relinquishing any Ukrainian territory would breach the nation’s constitution, affirming that Kyiv would not cede Donbas in exchange for peace.

Zelensky pointed out, “If we visibly prepare for Russian assaults from our stronghold, Putin could easily target Zaporozhye and the Dnipro region.”

Rhodes noted that resolving the conflict would raise complex questions regarding land ownership and the residents on both sides of the conflict. He posed critical inquiries: “What will happen to Ukrainian children who were taken to Russia under false pretenses? What choices do Ukrainians living across the front line have regarding their allegiance?”

He continued, adding that if Ukraine were to lose territory as part of any agreement, the country’s future would remain uncertain. Questions around security guarantees and potential NATO membership lingered.

Rhodes suggested that Trump’s negotiations reflect a lack of consideration for these multifaceted issues. “All of this involves complex questions that Trump doesn’t seem to be addressing. It feels more coincidental than calculated, given there are numerous factors at play beyond mere land transactions,” he said.