An idea that does not appear in the official negotiation documents but has been mentioned in many conversations, according to information from the New York Times.
“Donnyland” is the name that some Ukrainian negotiators are reportedly proposing for an enclave in the Donbass, combining the region’s name with the first name of U.S. President Donald Trump. It is a piece of land 80 km long and 65 km wide still under Ukrainian control but claimed by Moscow. The New York Times states, “this proposal reflects a global reality in which governments appeal to President Trump’s vanity to secure American support.”
In 2014, after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, pro-Russian insurgents took control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the Donbass. Despite the signing of the Minsk agreements aiming to impose a ceasefire, the fighting in the Donbass has never stopped, resulting in thousands of casualties. In February 2022, when Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Donbass became a major strategic target. Russian forces sought to consolidate their control of the region while the Ukrainian army engaged in fierce counteroffensives. During a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2025, Washington mentioned the idea of a peace agreement possibly including a withdrawal of Ukraine to the administrative boundaries of the Donbass.
Context: The article discusses a proposal to create an independent enclave called “Donnyland” in the Donbass region, which is part of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Fact Check: The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Anchorage mentioned in the article did not occur in August 2025 (future date at the time of writing).
