Donbas: The Defining Faultline in Ukraine’s Path to Peace

At the Alaska summit, Vladimir Putin demanded full control of Donbas as a condition for ending the war, making Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland the central faultline of peace talks. With Russia already holding 88% of the region, Ukraine continues to resist concessions, as President Zelenskyy insists that surrendering Donetsk and Luhansk would undermine sovereignty and pave the way for deeper Russian advances. The struggle over Donbas, shaped by years of conflict since 2014, remains a defining obstacle to peace.