Ukraine has proposed naming a contested part of the Donbas region “Donnyland” during peace talks, according to people familiar, in an apparent effort to appeal to Donald Trump and encourage stronger US backing against Russia. The suggestion, describe

2026-04-21

Ukraine has proposed naming a contested part of the Donbas region “Donnyland” during peace talks, according to people familiar, in an apparent effort to appeal to Donald Trump and encourage stronger US backing against Russia. The suggestion, described as partly in jest, was raised by Ukrainian negotiators to influence Washington’s stance as Vladimir Putin continues to press territorial demands in eastern Ukraine. The idea reflects a broader pattern of countries invoking Trump’s name in geopolitical initiatives to gain US support, though the proposal remains informal and undisclosed publicly.