Ukraine May Have Another Trick Up Its Sleeve: 'Donnyland'

Ukraine's negotiators have tried an unusual tactic to win over Donald Trump: floating the idea of a "Donnyland" within the Donbas. In confidential peace talks, Ukrainian officials have suggested branding a contested portion of eastern Ukraine with Trump's name—a mashup of "Donbas" and the president's first name—in hopes of nudging the Trump administration to lean harder on Moscow, reports the New York Times. The area in question is a devastated, thinly populated strip still held by Ukraine but coveted by Russia, and it has become one of the biggest sticking points in efforts to end the war.

"Donnyland" has so far existed only in discussions, not on paper, but Ukrainian negotiators have gamed out a Trump-branded demilitarized or free economic zone there—even sketching out a flag and anthem with the help of ChatGPT. Moscow, however, continues to demand full legal control of the Donbas, and Kyiv says giving up the land would be a "big mistake." Those defending the city of Kostiantynivka, on the front lines of the Donbas, agree with the latter. "If we just give it up like that, there will soon be nothing left," one Ukrainian battalion leader tells Deutsche Welle. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, says he believes Russia doesn't truly want the war to come to a close, per Euromaidan Press.