The Territorial Sticking Point Between Russia and Ukraine

Moscow’s demand for the whole Donbas blocks any peace negotiations

The Russian government has made it clear that any prospective peace agreement must grant Moscow control over the entire eastern Donbas region. This includes areas that remain under Ukrainian administration, a condition that Kyiv has flatly rejected.

Key demand: Russia insists that the settlement hand over the full territory of Donetsk and Luhansk, irrespective of the current front lines.

“We will not compromise on the integrity of the Donbas,” a Kremlin spokesperson said, emphasizing that the region is a non‑negotiable component of any future deal.

For Ukraine, the stipulation is a nonstarter. Ukrainian officials argue that ceding the lands they still control would undermine their sovereignty and betray the will of the people living there.

The impasse highlights the deep‑seated territorial disputes that continue to stall diplomatic efforts, leaving both sides at a stalemate as the conflict drags on.