Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a recent interview ahead of his visit to India, once again referenced "Novorossiya". He stressed that Russia will liberate Donbas and Novorossiya by military or other means. This time, however, Putin’s concept of Novorossiya extends beyond just the Donetsk region.
The main question is which territories does Putin include in "Novorossiya"? It may encompass Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, parts of which were occupied and annexed by Russia in 2022. Alternatively, it might refer to a broader political project outlined during the Crimean annexation—domination over the majority of Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions, historically referred to as Novorossiya.
Amid ongoing talks with Trump’s associates and Putin’s own remarks, it becomes clear that Russia’s strategy is not limited to Donbas. The creation of pseudo-referendums, the emergence of so-called “peoples” of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, and the gradual occupation of territories are parts of a larger plan to destabilize Ukraine and alter its geopolitical status.
Putin’s objective goes beyond annexing specific regions—he is aiming at potentially eliminating Ukrainian sovereignty along the lines of the Belarus scenario. Should Ukraine make concessions, Moscow could demand withdrawal from additional areas. This approach mirrors Hitler’s strategy towards Czechoslovakia, where initial concessions led to further territorial losses and loss of sovereignty.
Vitaly Portnikov emphasizes that it is dangerous to believe the war can be ended by ceding territories. The Kremlin’s real goal is control over Ukraine’s east and south and depriving the country of access to the sea. Putin’s repeated references to "Novorossiya" signal ongoing aggressive ambitions, and negotiations with Trump’s circle only reinforce this plan.
Portnikov warns against illusions of compromise and urges acknowledgment of the Kremlin’s true objectives, stressing the risks these expansions pose not only to Ukraine but also to the wider European region.
