Why bother - Russia only wants a pause to build up troops and arms to continue to take Ukraine. Land swap is a non-starter for Putin.
“Land swap is a non-starter for Putin.”
Many rural areas in Donetsk are pro-Ukrainian.
Most pro-Moscow separatists in Donetsk live in cities and towns.
In the USA, cities tend to be Democratic and rural areas Republican.
Projection.
Russia is winning the way they have always won, grinding out over time and using their larger man power, (they don’t care about how many deaths), so why would Putin agree to anything. He is just stalling and playing Trump for more time
“Russia only wants a pause to build up troops and arms to continue to take Ukraine.”
Trump and Hegseth are ramping up arms production and R&D.
The American Military-Industrial Complex is the most capable in the world.
“Land swap is a non-starter for Putin.”
He may not act or speak reasonably, but Putin understands the need to be reasonable.