Zelenskyy calls Donbas Ukraine's 'outpost' in talks with US envoys

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told US envoys that the Donbas issue is central to the war with Russia, calling the region Ukraine's "outpost" and linking its fate directly to the conflict's resolution. Zelenskyy stressed that Donbas is not merely a territorial matter but concerns the lives of citizens who remain there or were displaced by Russian aggression. He noted Ukrainian forces have strengthened positions in the east, where Russia has increased its military presence. The remarks came during a September 6 Kyiv meeting with US President Donald Trump's special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, following their talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Zelenskyy emphasized that a strong battlefield position enables diplomacy rather than ultimatums.