US Proposes Redrawing Ukraine's Donbas Borders

American negotiators have proposed redrawing the borders of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions, a cartographic maneuver that would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to claim full control of Donbas without capturing Ukrainian-held cities, according to The Economist. The proposal, reported during talks in Abu Dhabi, also includes potentially restoring Russian fossil fuel access to European energy markets, a move contradicting EU legislation mandating a permanent embargo on Russian hydrocarbons. Ukraine and key European partners have strongly rejected the plan. Talks in Abu Dhabi cover prisoner exchanges, the return of Ukrainian children, and security guarantees, with Ukraine expressing skepticism about US commitments under NATO Articles 4 or 5. Russia maintains maximalist demands, including Ukrainian neutrality and military reductions, while excluding European representatives from direct negotiations.