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US proposed Ukraine redraw Donetsk and Luhansk borders so Russia could claim full control, The Economist reports
US negotiators have reportedly suggested redrawing the borders of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions as part of a territorial settlement with Russia. The proposal could allow Russia to claim full control of both regions without Ukraine ceding territory it does not currently occupy, but it raises questions about how borders and sovereignty might be addressed in any deal.
The Economist’s sources described Russia as showing “unusual flexibility” after discussions of European security were proposed; the US fears Moscow could use those talks to prolong the fighting. Russia is seeking international recognition of its control over Crimea and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, including areas it does not hold. Ukraine has rejected giving up its territory, while President Donald Trump said on 9 November that Ukraine would emerge from the war in a “little bit different shape”.
In short
- US negotiators reportedly proposed redrawing borders in Donetsk and Luhansk.
- The plan could let Russia claim both regions without further Ukrainian land cessions.
- Ukraine rejects giving up territory, while Russia seeks broader international recognition.
Explained simply
Donetsk and Luhansk are regions in eastern Ukraine, where fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces has been concentrated since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia claims both regions, including areas it does not control on the ground.
Ukraine rejects giving up its territory, while Russia is seeking international recognition of its claims to several Ukrainian regions. The reported US suggestion concerns whether borders could be redrawn in a settlement, raising questions about how any agreement would define control and sovereignty.