Active diplomatic efforts are underway to resolve the territorial dispute over Donetsk as part of U.S.-mediated negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Donetsk is part of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, an area that has been at the heart of the conflict since Russia’s full-scale invasion. While Russian forces currently control around 90% of Donetsk, Ukraine still holds approximately 20% of the region, covering about 5,000 square kilometers. Ukraine has firmly rejected the idea of territorial concessions, arguing that it will not “gift” Russia land it has failed to capture militarily. According to the Financial Times, Washington has linked future U.S. security guarantees to Ukraine’s acceptance of a peace deal with Russia.