Ukraine has rejected a US proposal to redraw the administrative boundaries of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) in an attempt to accelerate the end of hostilities, according to The Telegraph.
Citing sources familiar with the negotiations, the British newspaper reported that Washington’s efforts to secure a peace settlement have largely stalled over territorial disagreements. Donbass remains the main obstacle, with Ukrainian forces still controlling part of the region. US officials pushed for changes to the republics' administrative borders, but Kiev refused to accept the proposal.
A source told The Telegraph that the Ukrainian delegation had never discussed territorial concessions during the negotiations. According to the source, Kiev has consistently refused to recognize such concessions, either in practice or under international law, and has maintained that position throughout the talks.
Earlier, The Economist reported that US officials had considered a proposal described as a cartographic trick. The plan involved redrawing the administrative boundaries of the DPR and LPR so that Moscow could declare full control over Donbass without Ukraine having to surrender territory still held by its armed forces.
According to the publications, representatives of US President Donald Trump presented the proposal ahead of trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi.