Much of the Russia Ukraine war has been focussed on control of the Donbas. And its end, if it were to happen, will revolve around whether Ukraine is willing to give up this region. Ukraine will need to make a deal with Russia in order to get peace, or risk losing all of this region. It is not clear where exactly the recent flurry of diplomacy spearheaded by US President Donald Trump to end the deadliest war in Europe since World War II will lead. But the Donbas – a mineral-rich territory that consists mainly of two regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, will be at the centre of any future negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. n18oc_world n18oc_crux