«The Spirit of Anchorage» for Russia — Recognition of Crimea and Occupied Territories for the RF: Budanov’s Explanation

Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the President’s Office of Ukraine, commented in an exclusive interview with RBC-Ukraine on the meaning of the term «the spirit of Anchorage», which is actively used in Russian political discourse. According to the official, the Russian side imbues this concept with a specific geopolitical meaning that is absolutely unacceptable for Ukraine.

What Lies Behind the Term

Budanov explained that for Moscow, «the spirit of Anchorage» refers to the interpretation of a meeting that took place in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. However, as the Head of the President’s Office noted, Russia and the US have diametrically opposite views on the results of that dialogue.

According to the Ukrainian official’s assessment, the Russian side sees in this term the West’s readiness to end the conflict on terms favorable to Moscow. «Three — this is the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Plus two — these are parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions currently under their control», Budanov listed.

Thus, according to the Head of the President’s Office, «the spirit of Anchorage» for Russians means the recognition by all global players of the full sovereignty of the Russian Federation over the listed territories. This condition, according to Budanov, is a key element of the Russian version of «ending the war».

Unacceptability of Conditions

Kyrylo Budanov emphasized that such conditions are impossible for Kyiv. «Everyone understands that this is unacceptable for us», he stated, noting that it is specifically about the territorial issue. At the same time, the official added that within the framework of these agreements, many other steps may be discussed, but for Ukraine, territorial integrity remains the priority.

Other Forecasts by the Head of the President’s Office

During the interview, Budanov also touched upon a number of other topical issues related to the course of hostilities and regional security. In particular, he commented on recent political decisions by Alexander Lukashenko and assessed the risks of a possible invasion from Belarus.

In addition, the Head of the President’s Office shared forecasts regarding the timing of the end of the conflict, noting the possibility of the war ending already in the current year. He also answered a question about the likelihood of a new mobilization in Russia in 2026.