Representatives of Russia and Ukraine are at the negotiating table in the UAE to end the four-year war. The US is mediating these talks. Almost everything has been finalized in these talks.

However, the issue of the Donbas region has become a complicated one for ending the war. Representatives of both countries have claimed that the war will end if they reach an agreement on this issue. Because both countries are claiming this land. Russia says: We have captured many areas of Donbas in the war. Accepting this new reality, Ukraine must give up its claim to this area. Ukraine says: We will not accept the terms of handing over the territory. The current negotiations are stuck in this dispute. Why is the Donbas region important? Let's discuss this. Two of the 24 oblasts (provinces) of Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk) are called the Donbas region. Russia has been waging a military intervention here since 2014 and in 2022, it declared war on the region. This region on the Sea of ​​Azov is predominantly Russian-speaking. About 75 percent of Donetsk and 70 percent of Luhansk are Russian-speaking. The region is characterized by its coal reserves, fertile arable land, and mineral deposits. It produces large quantities of wheat, rice, sunflowers, and corn. This has helped Ukraine become one of the world's largest exporters of food.

In the 20th century, the region was home to a large number of Ukrainian industries. The region was particularly known for its steel production.

Russia now occupies about 80 to 90 percent of the region. Russia has demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the remaining territory during the peace talks.

Russia annexed Crimea, the Ukrainian territory south of Donbas, in early 2014. Soon after, Russia also launched military interventions in Donetsk and Luhansk.

On May 7, 2014, Donetsk declared itself a ‘People’s Republic of Donetsk’, claiming to have seceded from Ukraine. Five days later, the ‘People’s Republic of Luhansk’ was declared. Since all these actions were at the behest of Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the world did not recognize it.

Russian President Putin recognized the People’s Republic of Donetsk and the People’s Republic of Luhansk as independent countries in 2022 and claimed that Russian troops were deployed to defend them.

The Russia-Ukraine war began with this claim. Thus, Putin has been continuously trying to take these two areas for the past 12 years.

However, despite the loss of a large number of Russian soldiers, Moscow has not yet been able to fully capture the Donbass region. So far, Russia controls almost all of Luhansk and only about 70 percent of Donetsk.

The Russian army is fighting Ukraine to move forward from this. Putin has been saying that if Ukraine does not leave these territories, Russia will use military force to capture them.

However, the human toll is high. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte claimed last week that 20,000 to 25,000 Russian soldiers are losing their lives in the region every month. However, Russia has not made these details public.

This region is also strategically important. The port of Mariupol provides access to the Black Sea. Russia has an emotional connection to the region, with a majority Russian-speaking population.

Ukraine became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been claiming that Ukraine has no right to exist as an independent nation. He has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine and the Ukrainian people have been part of Russia throughout history.