Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to a report by The New York Times regarding the proposed renaming of parts of the Donetsk region to “Donnieland.” During a press conference in Paris, Zelensky emphasized that official discussions and documents refer solely to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
He stated, “In my negotiations, there are no other terms besides Donetsk region, Luhansk region, our Donbas — the territory of Ukraine. There are no other terms, and there are documents that reflect this.” Zelensky refrained from commenting on any informal dialogues that may involve alternative names.
“In my opinion, the most important thing is that the Donetsk region and Luhansk region remain Ukrainian territory, and that is the case, so that there is no ‘Putinland.’ That seems to me the most important,” he added.
The New York Times previously reported that Ukraine had allegedly suggested the name “Donnieland” for the part of Donbas under its control, in an effort to engage the Trump administration more assertively against Russian territorial claims.
According to the report, this proposal was seen as a strategy to encourage the U.S. administration to take a firmer stance on the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has clarified that official references to the Donetsk region do not include the proposed name 'Donnieland.' He emphasized the importance of maintaining Ukrainian sovereignty over the region amid discussions about its future.
Source: The New York Times