Compromise Talks Focus on Control of Land in Eastern Ukraine

The latest round of talks to end the war in Ukraine ended with no sign of progress, but negotiators have been bargaining over who would control territory in eastern Ukraine if a settlement is reached. Russia has demanded that Ukraine hand over the land it controls in the Donetsk region as a condition for ending the war — a strip of territory about 50 miles long and 40 miles wide that includes dozens of towns and villages between the frontline and the administrative border.

Ukraine has refused to withdraw unilaterally and has sought security guarantees; President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that "allowing the aggressor to take something is a big mistake." One idea under discussion is a demilitarized zone controlled by neither army, a proposal that reappeared in prior peace plans, including a 28-point one floated in November.

That plan would have put Russia in charge of the area while prohibiting it from deploying military forces; President Vladimir V. Putin said the details needed to be discussed.

Ukraine, Donetsk region

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