Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejects Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands to cede the Donbas region, citing sovereignty concerns and the area's critical economic and strategic importance.

A decade ago, Donetsk was the metropolis of Ukraine's east. Now, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly has it squarely in his sights.

PUTIN laid his cards on the table when he declared that he wants the whole of Ukraine’s Donbas region in exchange for peace. The eastern zone, home to Ukraine’s “fortress

Putin seeks "a multilateral system of commitments that includes not only the West but also Russia itself," one expert told Newsweek.

U.S. representatives will meet with their European counterparts to finalize details on potential security guarantees for Ukraine. This comes as President Trump comments on efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.