Trump Presses Ukraine: Why the US Plan for Donbas is Called a Poison Pill.

According to ТСН: The Trump administration is actively pressuring Kyiv, demanding territorial concessions, particularly regarding Donbas, which the Kremlin has been trying to seize for several years. Washington proposes to hand over part of Ukrainian territory 'for the sake of peace.'

Vitkoff's 'Obsession'

According to the publication, Steve Vitkoff, Trump's special envoy, who met with Putin six times this year, has become a lobbyist for the idea of 'land swaps.'

'Vitkoff was 'obsessed' with the idea that if Kyiv simply transferred the remaining 25% of the eastern part of the Donetsk region under its control to Moscow, a just peace could be achieved and a longer, more destructive war could be avoided,'

- high-ranking Ukrainian officials told reporters. Trump supports this idea, claiming that Ukraine 'has no cards in hand' and will lose more if it continues the war next year.

The 'Fortress Cities' Belt

For Ukraine, implementing this plan could have catastrophic consequences. It involves transferring control of the so-called 'fortress belt' to Russia — the territories of the cities of Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk. These cities are not only territorially significant but are also key elements of defense, with a significant portion of a billion dollars spent on fortifications.

'West of the defense line, the steppe is leveling out, and Russia will have open fields and less populated areas through which it can advance,'

- analysts warn. By giving up these cities, Ukraine will provide the enemy a pathway deep into the country.

Kyiv's Reaction: 'Poison Pill'

President Zelenskyy firmly rejects such proposals, describing them as a 'poison pill.' He emphasizes that he has neither the legal nor moral authority to surrender Ukrainian lands. One of the European ambassadors present at the presentation of the American plan described his impressions in one word:

'nauseating.'

Experts also warn that any 'demilitarized zone' proposed by the US, without real NATO forces, will merely serve as a temporary pause before a new Russian attack, as has happened before after the Minsk agreements. The American proposals regarding Donbas virtually take into account Russia's position, and Zelenskyy noted that this is certainly not in Ukraine's interests.

The situation around Donbas remains tense, and the proposals of the US administration provoke outrage in Kyiv. The Ukrainian authorities are determined to defend their territorial integrity and do not intend to make compromises that could undermine national security. In this context, it is crucial to monitor further decisions and actions from both the Ukrainian and American sides, as this will determine not only the situation in the region but also the future of the entire country.