Izvestia reported an unsurprising conclusion about the media rumors that a territory-for-NATO-membership deal may be in the works around Ukraine. They quote Elena Panina, the Director of the Institute of International Political and Economic Strategies RUSSTRAT, saying that “the West is trying to adapt to the realities on the battlefield against the background of the tactical successes of the Russian Armed Forces in Donbass,” adding that “the expert is adamant that Russia will never agree to Kiev’s membership in the alliance… ‘It’s also clear that Russia has no interest in freezing the conflict, as this would be a prerequisite for Ukraine joining NATO,’ the analyst concluded.”