This is CBSI on the world.

I'm John Batchel.

Bill Rajo, my colleague and co-host of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy's Long

War Journal, and we welcome his colleague, John Hardy, following the Ukraine-Russian

contest with this headline surprising in these last hours.

U.S. tells Ukraine, writes Reuters,

it must withdraw from Dernetsk region for peace deal.

And accordingly to this report, dated within hours,

that's information from a familiar person familiar with talks.

It goes on to say Zelensky, U.S. Envoy's European Leaders, meeting in Berlin.

Vanderlian has joined that meeting, we're told, separately.

Ukraine willing to drop NATO bid for security guarantees.

There's also a headline saying the U.S. regards that dropped coal is not significant in altering the intention to make peace.

Territorial issue proving one the toughest to crack.

Three quarters of Ukrainians reject major concessions, goes a subhead in Reuters.

Kremlin says issue of Ukraine-NATO membership is fundamental.

John, a very good evening to you.

All of these things are heaped on top of the reports around the world, so I'm

going to try to focus on one aspect of this. What is the Denedsk region that's so critical

in these conversations? And I believe it includes Percrofts, but there's more to it. What is it,

John? Good evening to you. Hi, John. Hey, Bill. Thanks for having you back on the show.

We've discussed this issue many times in a previous podcast. So I'll just sum up quickly.

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