US negotiators have proposed redrawing Ukraine’s administrative boundaries to allow Russia to declare full control over the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics while leaving Slavyansk and Kramatorsk under Ukrainian control, The Economist reports.

According to the publication, Washington is considering this unconventional arrangement as one possible way to persuade Moscow to accept a peace settlement.

The American proposal also includes lifting sanctions on Russia’s energy sector. Ukraine and the European Union, however, strongly oppose removing these restrictions.

The report comes as Russia, Ukraine and the United States begin trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi on November 10. The talks are scheduled to continue on November 11.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky is leading Moscow’s delegation, while Ukraine is represented by Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. The US delegation includes White House special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Western media previously reported that White House representatives could travel to Moscow and Kiev following the Abu Dhabi negotiations. The potential visits would reportedly involve direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky.