We are facing an global diplomatic rally for peace in Ukraine and many questions the planet has faced. What will happen in Washington? What will happen during the Trump-Zelenski meeting? What will be the result of the EU delegation to the US?
At the same time, demands that Putin was to make during his gathering with Trump in Alaska are changing in the media. "Donbas for truce" – this is how you can summarize 1 of them, which was reported by "Financial Times".
"Donbas is the heart of Ukraine", "It's a natural fortress"
What Donbas is, we all know. For the last 3 years, we've been watching paintings the planet never should have seen. It is simply a region of the Donetsk Coal Basin in the east of Ukraine, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk circuits. 1 of the largest coal regions in Europe.
"Donbas is the heart of Ukraine" can be read at the entrance to the city in east Ukraine" – as reported in 2014 "Deutsche Welle", erstwhile the planet first saw the importance of Donbas, which constituted 5 percent of Ukraine's surface area. The Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republic then declared independence.
"Starting in east Ukraine made this region, in terms of surface, insignificant, abruptly a focus of interest to the world's public" – it is inactive a fragment of that account.
Today, most of Donbas is under Russian control. It is estimated that it is about 88% of the territory – almost the full Lugansk region and about 70 percent of Donetsk. inactive Putin and his troops can't get it.
– due to the fact that Donbas is simply a natural fortress, large canyons, water floods, swamps, ponds, lakes, earthy terrain, very fewer roads, chaotic nature, these are all obstacles to which specified a immense army is not easy to pass – as explained in TOK FM Piotr Kaszuwara writer and president of the UA Futura Foundation.
According to the BBC, at least 1.5 million Ukrainians escaped from Russian aggression in 2014, and over 3 million people live under Russian occupation. Another 300 1000 – in areas that are inactive under Ukrainian control. It's a territory of about 6,600 sq mi.
The situation of cities destroyed by the Russians, specified as Mariupol, Bachmut or Awdijiwka, is as shown in the pictures by the Ukrainian Ministry of abroad Affairs:
Why is Putin so curious in this region? Let's get this straight. There are respective factors. Political, military, economic, logistical and propaganda.
The geopolitical importance and increase of Russia's influence in the region
Donbas is straight bordering Russia. Just look at the map to see that thanks to its acquisition, Putin opens his land road to Crimea and strengthens his influence in the region. It could besides strengthen the presence of the Russian army and make fresh military bases that could endanger Ukraine and another countries. This could aid him to carry out a possible war effort.
Military importance of Donbas to Russia
"Pas forts" – that's what the Donbas Institute of War investigation (ISW) defines. It is about many fortifications, fortifications and defensive positions, which present form a strong frontline around cities specified as Donetsk, Slavic or Kramatorsk.
"The fortress belt consists of 4 large towns and respective smaller towns and settlements that run from north to south along the H-20 Kostyantynivka-Słowiansk road, with a full pre-war population of over 380 537 people. The belt is 50 kilometres long" – we read in the August 12 report.
As she explained in an interview with "The Independent" Elina Beketov, a co-worker of the European Policy Analysis Centre, "the full region is heavy mined".
"It's not just trenches, it's a deep, multi-layer defence with bunkers, anti-tank ditches, minefields and industrial areas embedded in the field. This area includes dominant altitudes, rivers and urban zones, which make it highly hard to obtain," she explained. As she stated, the failure of this strengthened line would have "catastrophic consequences" for Ukraine.
What Russia would gain, you don't even gotta imagine.
Control of natural resources
Here are immense coal deposits, the metallurgical manufacture and another natural materials specified as gas, salt or lithium deposits – 1 of the most crucial industrial regions of Ukraine. Taking over these resources could strengthen the Russian economy after the war, and the level of coal, steel or another materials would be a valuable origin of income and strategical resources for Russia.
– The city of Bachmut is the key to gaining Donbass, which is what Silesia is for Poland; it is an economical and industrial centre, the heart of Ukraine; the Russians want to rip this heart out of this country – so General Waldemar Skrzypczak, a erstwhile commander of the Land Army, spoke to the PAP years ago.
Putin strengthens image as a defender of the Russians
From the beginning Putin played defence rhetoric for Russians surviving in both circuits. Taking over Donbas would show the countrymen in another erstwhile republics of the erstwhile USSR proof that he would defend their interests. He'd grow up to be the top defender of the Russian diaspora, and he could play it his way.
By the way, he could strengthen his position among Russians abroad. This, in turn, could besides bring him support in the country.
Weakness of Ukraine and playing the imagination of imperial Russia
Putin could besides play weakening Ukraine and usage Donbas to destabilise another regions of Ukraine. There's besides an ideology here.
As early as 2014, Ewald Boehlke, manager of the Berthold Beitz Center in Berlin said "DW" that the Donetsk Coal Basin is unprofitable, "expensive since the 1980s and actually only for social reasons keeps it alive".
As he stated, therefore, from a purely economical point of view, the annexation would not be profitable for Russia at all. It would be worth something else. “In Moscow, the Renaissance survives the thought of restoring the Russian Empire,” he said.
And this note – regardless of economical benefits – could besides benefit Putin.
Zelenski about Donbas: We Will Not Leave
Let's go back to the end. president Volodymyr Zelenski repeatedly said that he did not consider giving Donbas.
We're not leaving Donbas. We can't do this. Everyone forgets the first part – our territories are illegally occupied. Donbas for Russians is the starting point for the future fresh offensive – he warned.
– If Ukraine agreed to surrender these areas today, the Russians have a good starting platform for further attack after any time. Let us remember that Putin at the minute professes specified a explanation from russian times – there is the border of Russia, where there is simply a boot of a Russian or russian soldier – said 24 General of the Polish Army, at remainder Mieczysław Bieniek.
