Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA
Volodymyr Zelenskyy conversa Donald Trump
Despite not being present in official documents, the term was used during meetings of Ukrainian negotiators. One diplomat even created a flag and an anthem for the region.
During recent peace talks with Russia, Ukrainian authorities came up with an unusual idea: informally naming a territory of the oblast de Donetsk, no Donbass, como “Donnyland“, in an attempt to please Donald Trump’s ego.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations heard by , the term was initially used in jest but, despite not being mentioned in any official document, it was used in meetings.
The nickname was suggested in an “attempt to convince the Trump administration to resist Russia’s territorial demands more.” A Ukrainian negotiator went so far as to create an official green and gold flag and a national anthem for “Donnyland” with ChatGPT.
The territory in question stretches 80 kilometers long and 65 kilometers wide and, according to Ukrainian authorities, is about 190 thousand inhabitants.
Ukrainian authorities also proposed the possibility of Trump’s Peace Council having a role in the administration of “Donnyland”. Other proposals included the transformation of the region into a demilitarized zone or in a special economic area governed by an independent authority or in a joint administrative structure involving Russia and Ukraine. Given that it is a zone not controlled by either side, “Donnyland” could be “presented as an achievement” to Trump.
Despite these ideas, progress has been limited. THE Russia rejected agreements that do not guarantee full sovereignty over the area, while Ukraine has resisted any territorial concessions that could weaken its long-term security.
Negotiations have continued largely behind the scenes in recent months, with U.S. envoys involved in diplomatic efforts. However, progress slowed as the attention turned to other international crisessuch as US attacks on Venezuela or Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed frustration that Trump’s envoys had repeated trips to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but did not go to Kiev for negotiations with the Ukrainian side.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that the US is currently focused on the war in the Middle East, but stated that “in any case, it is important for us to continue cooperating with the Americans.”
