Ukrainian officials have informally floated naming a contested portion of the Donbas region “Donnyland” during behind-the-scenes peace negotiations with Russia, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The idea—a blend of the region’s name and President Donald Trump’s first name—has not appeared in formal documents but was raised as Ukrainian negotiators sought to appeal to Trump’s interest in brokering a deal and to secure stronger U.S. backing against Russian territorial demands.
One Ukrainian negotiator introduced the term partly in jest while pressing the Trump administration to take a firmer stance against Moscow, according to The New York Times. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said operations will continue until Russian forces reach the administrative boundaries of the Donbas, the region where fighting began in 2014.
The proposed zone would span roughly 50 by 40 miles of Ukrainian-held territory still under contest. Years of war have left the area heavily damaged and largely depopulated, with an estimated 190,000 residents, though some sources say the figure may be far lower. Infrastructure remains militarized, including a main highway shielded against drone attacks, while economic activity is limited to a single coal mine and support services for troops.
Kyiv maintains it can defend the territory and has rejected ceding it outright. President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated openness to alternatives such as a demilitarized zone or a free economic area under shared or neutral oversight, provided Russia cannot claim sovereignty. A Trump-backed “Board of Peace” has also been discussed, though neither side has committed.
The core dispute remains unchanged. Russia continues to demand full control, a position reiterated by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while Ukraine rejects concessions that could weaken its long-term security, with Zelensky warning that trading land for peace would be “a big mistake.”
Talks have continued on issues including potential U.S. security guarantees. Trump, who campaigned on ending the war quickly, said last week: “Ukraine is moving along. I wish they could get along. We’ll see what happens. There’s things happening there.”
Samuel Charap of the RAND Corporation said both sides have shown some flexibility on the status of the Ukrainian-held pocket, adding that tying Trump’s name to a potential economic zone could serve as a deterrent by signaling U.S. political investment.
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