Ukrainian negotiators have floated the tongue‑in‑cheek label Donnyland for the slice of the Donbas still under Kyiv’s control, hoping the name will prod the Trump administration to pressure Moscow. The proposal emerged in recent peace talks, where officials described the moniker as a strategic appeal to President Donald Trump’s vanity. No formal document yet carries the name.

That territory spans roughly 50 miles long by 40 miles wide, home to an estimated 190,000 residents, though some sources suggest half that number. Only one coal mine remains operational, while shops cater to soldiers stationed nearby. Kyiv insists it can defend the zone and rejects any full Russian control, even as Moscow demands legal ownership of the entire Donbas.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner remain focused on other crises, leaving the Donnyland idea in limbo. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has said Moscow will accept only complete legal control, while Kyiv warns ceding the area would invite future aggression. As talks stall, the naming gamble offers little leverage for either side. The proposal also raises questions about future economic zoning.