KRAMATORSK, Ukraine — As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the White House, civilians in eastern Ukraine are fleeing front-line towns due to increasing threats from Russian forces. At the main train station in Kramatorsk, sisters Valentina and Nadia, both in their 70s, wait for a train to escape the advancing troops. They express distrust in both President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine’s future. "We do not believe Trump," Valentina said. "He says one thing and does another."

The Donbas region, which includes Kramatorsk, has been a focal point of conflict and diplomatic negotiations for over a decade. This area is vital for Ukraine, serving as an industrial hub and a defensive barrier. It is rich in resources and holds significant cultural importance for Ukrainians. Conversely, the Kremlin views Donbas as a strategic target, with Putin asserting historical ties to the region while pursuing territorial ambitions through military action.

The Donbas consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, covering approximately 20,000 square miles, similar in size to West Virginia. It is known for its coal and metal deposits, as well as its industrial towns and ports along the Sea of Azov. Following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, pro-Russian separatists engaged in conflict with Ukrainian forces in Donbas, resulting in over 14,000 deaths, according to United Nations estimates. In 2022, Putin recognized the self-declared “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic” before launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Currently, Russia controls about 88% of the Donbas region, including all of Luhansk and approximately 75% of Donetsk. Moscow claims sovereignty over these territories, as well as Crimea and parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russia's conditions for ending the war include Ukraine ceding these territories and agreeing to remain neutral, which Kyiv has firmly rejected. Ukraine's European allies also support this stance, insisting that Russia cannot dictate Ukraine's NATO aspirations.

Zelenskyy has made it clear that Ukraine will not surrender the Donbas in exchange for peace. The region is crucial for Ukraine's military and economic stability. Despite the ongoing war fatigue, about 75% of Ukrainians oppose ceding any land to Russia, according to polling by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. Surrendering the Donbas would not only weaken Ukraine but also leave central Ukraine vulnerable to further Russian offensives.

The Donbas remains a critical battleground in the conflict, symbolizing both Putin's ambitions and the broader struggle for Ukraine's sovereignty. As negotiations continue, the fate of this region may ultimately be determined in diplomatic discussions rather than on the battlefield.