Ukraine Accepts Loss of Donbas: Vice President Vence

Ukraine considers its withdrawal from Donbas a "serious security issue," but Kyiv officials are secretly acknowledging that they will ultimately lose the region, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vence announced in an interview with UnHer.

According to him, the Russian side "truly wants to establish territorial control" over Donbas, but the Ukrainians view this as a "serious security issue."

"They secretly admit that they will probably lose Donbas in the end, but that 'eventually' might happen in the next 12 months or even later. Therefore, this territorial concession is a significant obstacle for negotiations. I would say that it is a terrible territorial concession," Vence stated.

The U.S. Vice President emphasized that other, "somewhat less significant issues" are being discussed in negotiations. These relate to the control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the situation of ethnic Russians in Ukraine, and Ukrainians in Russia. The issue of Ukraine's reconstruction is also important, and Kyiv is more focused on it than Moscow, Vence noted.

He highlighted that Russia and Ukraine have been negotiating with "good intentions" over the past few months, and the U.S. will continue to seek a peaceful resolution to the issue.

"I believe we have made progress, but sitting here today, I wouldn't say with confidence that we will achieve a peaceful resolution. I think there is a high probability that it might happen, and a high probability that it might not," he emphasized.