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Bloomberg Radio is currently discussing Trump’s big shift in emphasis on the Ukraine/Russia war. They point out that Trump said that Ukraine may even get back the land all the way to their original borders, and then adds they might even move beyond those borders. Is this a hint to get back into Kursk, Belgorad, perhaps even more territories? Let’s see what AI has to say on this thought:

“AI Overview
* Russian regions bordering Ukraine, such as Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, Kursk, and Voronezh oblasts, have significant historical Ukrainian populations, especially in the Kuban region (Krasnodar), where Ukrainian Cossacks were resettled and formed a majority by the late 19th century. While modern censuses show smaller numbers, these border areas have long been characterized by a complex ethnic history, with centuries of migration, settlement, and cultural exchange between Ukrainian and Russian populations, along with other groups like Crimean Tatars and Greeks.
* Krasnodar Krai (Kuban region)
Historical Connection: The region was colonized by Ukrainian Cossacks starting in 1792.
-Demographics: By the 1897 Tsarist census, Ukrainians were the largest ethnic group in Kuban, with over 900,000 people identifying as Ukrainian or using the Ukrainian language.
-Cultural Identity: These Cossacks maintained a strong Ukrainian identity and language, a historical fact Ukraine has used to assert its claim to this historically Ukrainian land.
* Belgorod, Kursk, and Voronezh Oblasts
-Ethnic History: These areas have a long-standing Ukrainian population, with significant Ukrainian-speaking communities in the early 20th century.
-Modern Demographics: While the official census data from 2020 show smaller percentages of Ukrainians (e.g., 1% in Belgorod Oblast), Begin-Sadat Center notes that the number of people of Ukrainian origin is likely much higher.
-Administrative Borders: The current administrative border was established after border disputes between the Ukrainian SSR and the Russian SFSR in the 1920s, granting some Ukrainian-inhabited territories to the RSFSR.
* General Ethnic Context
-Migration and Settlement: The historical complexity of the border regions is due to centuries of migrations and interactions between different ethnic groups, including Ukrainians, Russians, and Crimean Tatars.
-Shared Heritage: Many of these lands, which were often part of the historical Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union, were sites of significant industrialization and population shifts, leading to mixed populations and complex cultural identities.”

Apparently Melania has been giving her husband more information about the history and behavior of Russia towards its neighbors, like her own homeland. In addition, perhaps Zelensky has reminded Trump about all the shore front property in Crimea currently stolen by the Russian oligarchs which will become available when Ukraine recovers Crimea. I don’t know about Trump, but I would certainly rather be developing resort hotels in Crimea than in Moscow or Gaza. The climate is so much better in Crimea.